Ciprodex for Otitis Externa User Reviews

• Lta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2020

"This medicine works for swimmer's ear, but you HAVE to take it for the prescribed amount of time. The first 1-5 doses will be very painful, and it sucks, especially at night. Pain meds, cold and warm compresses help immensely! The medicine starts working, and all pain will be gone by your 3rd or 4th day. Seriously, don’t let these reviews claiming it doesn’t work from people who took one dose scare you—take it for the prescribed amount of time, and it will do wonders!"

• TKa...
• January 7, 2021

"Just wanted to add my experience because I read these reviews when I got swimmer’s ear and got really freaked out. I had otitis externa in both ears, waited for 2 days before going to a drop-in clinic because it was so painful. Got prescribed Ciprodex, 4 drops twice a day for a week. It took about 2 days to start feeling better, a week to be pain-free and another couple of days after that for my ears to pop and my hearing to be normal again. I didn’t experience pain with the drops or any side effects. Do make sure you rub the bottle between your hands before administering to make the drops less cold. My sister had the same experience with these drops a couple of years ago. Definitely preferable to waiting it out because OUCH, swimmer’s ear is more painful than I expected! Don’t be afraid to take them, most people who have a perfectly fine experience with something don’t go online to review it, it’s usually the minority of people who had a problem who do."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2019

"I’m on the 4th day of using Ciprodex for an ear infection. There is a ringing, whooshing in my ears. I can barely hear properly! My ears are pulsating. Feel so terrible. I’m worse off than when I started the drops! I hope I’m not going deaf from this stuff."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2020

"Ok, so I was scared after reading these reviews of Ciprodex. But these worked so fast for me. I had a middle ear infection that worsened over 3 days, and somehow I also ended up with swimmer's ear as well. I had severe pain, my ear canal was swollen shut, and I couldn’t hear. After 2 days, these drops opened up my ear and I could hear, and the pain got much better. Now, 5 days later, I feel completely back to normal. I am so glad they worked."

• Aan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2019

"I am currently one day after the 7 days of treatment that I was instructed to do. Just about all pain and most of the fluid have gone away, but I am still feeling a clogged/muffled sensation in my ear. It was already that way when I was prescribed, so I'm hoping that it will go away soon. I am seeing a lot of negative reviews, and while my symptoms aren't all gone, it has improved them a lot. Talk to your doctor about possible adverse reactions, and PLEASE use medicine exactly as instructed. Be sure to read the paper insert it comes with for further instruction as well - neither pharmacist nor doc told me it had to be warmed with my hands for 1-2 minutes and to shake well. Best of luck to everyone healing."

• TYP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2018

"I've had an ear infection on my left side for almost a month! I tried everything! I tried OTC ear drops, sweet oil, peroxide... you name it. Went to my local ER because I was hurting so bad, my face had swollen up on the side my earache was on, my neck swollen up on that side, my lymph nodes were swollen, and I became feverish! It got into my jaw and I could barely open my mouth, and of course it was the weekend and I couldn't get into my regular doctor. Well, they didn't do much but give me an antibiotic for an earache, no ear drops. Anyway, I finally made it to my PCP and she prescribed me Ciprodex! She advised me to continue the antibiotics but also start the ear drops (that the ER should have also given me)... they worked perfectly! Just remember people, everyone's body is different! Just because it doesn't work for one person does not mean it won't work for you, and vice versa!"

• Dee...
• August 18, 2020

"Took Ciprodex for an ear infection. It immediately intensified my pain, so I stopped it. Saw ENT one day later while on amoxicillin clav and steroid, he thought pain could have been from the ear being flushed. He advised trying Ciprodex again. After the next dose, I was thrown immediately into suffering pain, stabbing and throbbing pain, inflamed jaw and throat. Pain will not relent. Taken 3 Tylenol and iced it. 14 hours later, still throbbing. Please tell me this pain will stop! Never take this med, it's torture!"

• Toy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2020

"I had a double ear infection. It started as a little pain. However, after taking Cipro HC, the pain intensified and my hearing was gone. At first, I thought maybe it has to get worse in order to get better.... Nope! That’s definitely not the case. After being in excruciating pain for one week and no relief from taking the Cipro, I contacted my doctor and explained what was going on. My Dr. changed my ear drops (although he stood by the Cipro, they don’t realize this brand isn’t any good). I’m now taking neomycin polymyxin/polymyxin B sulfates and hydrocortisone otic suspension. Within taking my first dose, my ear started to feel better. My ear’s still currently clogged. But no pain! Thank God!!!"

• Pre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2019

"This medication ear drop, Ciprodex, is horrible. My ears weren't as bad before using the drops, both ears are infected, and I can hardly hear. I stopped taking the drops and am sticking to the amoxicillin provided. I don't recommend these drops. My face hurts on the side, my jaw feels tight. So uncomfortable sleeping at night, so I sleep sitting in the upright position. Please just pray that this pain is over with soon. I'm not sure if I should see an ENT. I had this problem before in one ear, but it's in both now. So it's stressful."

• Red...
• December 17, 2017

"I’ve taken 4 doses of Ciprodex and will need my 5th dose in a few hours. I was prescribed this medicine by a nurse practitioner and told to use it 2x per day (4 drops per dose). My ear canal is still swollen, the pain has gotten a lot worse, and I also have pain in and under my jaw now. I have difficulty eating, and I can’t sleep because it feels like someone is stabbing my brain with a knife. I came to this site to find out how long it takes to work. It's not looking hopeful."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2020

"I was floxed by Ciprodex. It was a nightmare from day 1. I need an ear doctor that understands how to help me recover from the damage of this eardrop. Please provide doctor names. I need serious help, my specialist still cannot come to terms that I was floxed or what to do for me. I am very desperate. I have permanent hearing loss from this drug."

• Sid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2022

"The other users here are very dramatic and unfairly giving people a scare from this wonderful ear drop. 1. The tingle I felt was only on the first two applications and that is due to the ingredient in the drop acetic acid and once you take it more than once your ears become used to this mild ingredient. It will tingle temporarily than it will quickly become way better as the dexamethasone reduces all inflammation inside the ear canal and drum. 2. The clogged feeling/deafness is literally people not draining drops back out after application.. I had no deafness. The negative reviews had me afraid for days to take this drop. I finally gave in due to pain, headaches, dizziness due to ear infection and by application two at bed time I slept great with no symptoms by bed time. Stop letting other people bad reviews scare you guys! The majority of the people here are describing symptoms of their ear infection NOT this meds side effects. This drop greatly helped me please don’t be misled."

• Fir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2020

"My ENT prescribed Ciprodex for an external ear infection in the left ear. I didn't have pain in my left ear until after the ENT had cleaned my ear due to a feeling of fullness and hearing loss, and after I started Ciprodex. My left ear was extremely painful and itchy after I put drops in my ear, and I could not sleep at night without Ibuprofen. My left jaw and side of my face were very uncomfortable. I used the drops for 5 days and then went back to the ENT. He suggested using them for 2 more days. I almost cried. I used them for one more day and gave up. A little over a week since I stopped the drops, and I'm just beginning to not have continual pain in my left ear and left side of my face/jaw. I am finally able to sleep on my left side without excruciating discomfort."

• Lia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2020

"I had the worst double ear infection...outer and inner...the doctor had seen. They were so bad they were swollen shut. I had to work to get the drops even in. I managed to get the drops in and was blessed with relief within a few hours. I was in so much pain I thought I would have to be rushed to the ER. They are ridiculously expensive but totally worth it."

• KET...
• July 9, 2018

"USE WITH CAUTION! My 14-year-old daughter was prescribed Ciprodex for swimmer's ear in both ears. Before seeing the doctor, we were using ibuprofen and over-the-counter pain relief eardrops, with the only serious pain being in the middle of the night. The doctor said Ciprodex would be expensive ($50) but worth it, as it would clear the ear fast. WRONG! Approximately 30 minutes after the very first dose, she was screaming and writhing in pain like I'd never seen. MUCH WORSE! I Googled it to find LOTS of similar stories and pain as a known side effect! I immediately called and got an alternative (Neomycin-Polymyxin HC drops - FREE - 100% coverage by insurance and no copay!) I tried the new drops in the first ear and waited 1 hour before using them in the other ear to make sure these drops wouldn't cause the same intense pain. She was fine with the free Neomycin-Polymyxin HC. Hopefully, healing can begin now!"

• B-R...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2017

"I had ear canal inflammation for almost 4 weeks and haven't touched these drops since the reviews say that it'll damage your cochlear nerve, cause hearing loss and tinnitus. Taking these drops, I've seen some improvement. Yeah, a little pain here and there, and yes... a little tinnitus here and there, but that's cause the medicine is eating the inflammation like Pac-Man. It works like a charm. Just don't overuse it or you'll get hearing loss and resistance. It works, trust me."

• Tod...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2017

"I started using Ciprodex, and in 24 hrs, massive change and improved difference. The ear swelling came completely down, which was a huge relief. Now just waiting for the hearing to come back once the clog goes away. It feels like it's so close to being normal."

• sin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2015

"I had an ear infection I went to the ER and the gave me Ciprodex and told me to use it for 7 days but I didn't need to because my infection was gone after 2 days of using Ciprodex..... I will think it works great..."

• aba...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2020

"So when I first got Ciprodex prescribed, I was scared of it hurting, due to all the reviews about pain. However, having been on this for a week and doing the 4 drops twice a day, I felt NO PAIN. Literally nothing. Just normal ear drops. Sometimes it was a bit cold because I didn't warm it up in my hand long enough, but that was it. I was hesitant of trying this at first but it worked great, my ear (which was painful to the touch prior) is now feeling normal. I had never previously had an ear infection, but if I get one again, I would use this. Only reason I am not choosing 10/10 is because it is pricey. My insurance covered most of it, but I had to pay about $70 out of pocket still. Obviously different people have different side effects to medicine and could take Ciprodex when they have a much more severe infection than I did, but it treated me super easy and painlessly."

• Lee...
• July 24, 2017

"This hurts so bad. I'm not sleeping at night. I'm in constant pain from the medication. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow and reporting this. I feel like I stuck poison in my ear. I DON'T RECOMMEND THIS UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE IN SO MUCH PAIN!!!!"

• flu...
• November 12, 2018

"Showered in the morning (I usually don't). this probably was the start of the bacterial infection. Early next morning, I woke up to pain in my left ear. felt like a chunk of ear wax was poking my eardrum and back of ear. spent the entire day trying to get it out with ear wax remover and water. advil got me to sleep. The day after, went to doctor, who prescribed ciprodex. It hurt quite a bit, but less than the pain from before. I took advil 2/3 times that day. The next day, ear felt inflamed. Sometimes felt sharp pain at the back of my ear, but I didn't need advil that day, though. The next after that is today. I just feels like there's ear wax all over the inside of my ear, but no pain. Some pieces I picked out looked like earwax, but I'm thinking it's ciprodex that has just dried out in my ear canal. For fixing my issue in about two days, I'd say this stuff is actually insanely effective. (though disclaimer, I have no idea how bacterial infections go for other regions of the body)."

• Nei...
• February 7, 2019

"Dealing with soreness in right ear.... progressively getting worse over a period of 3 weeks or more. Ciprodex was prescribed at a cost of $400. My medicare didn't cover so faxed over to V.A. They issued free of charge for me. First two days....no improvement. 3 day greatly improved. Now On my 5th day and I believe I'm cured but will continue to take as prescribed for 7 days total. Side effects:. Some itching but none other that I notice."

• Jod...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2019

"I would rate this medication Ciprodex as 0 if that was an option. It cost $150 and did absolutely nothing for my daughters ear infection. We had to go back to her doctor and get a generic that we've used before. Incredibly disappointing and absurdly overpriced."

• Unh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2018

"After swimming, I noticed water in my ear. I tried various home remedies for four days and finally went to urgent care to clear up this annoying feeling. PA prescribed me ciprodex 2x day for 7 days. After the first dose, my entire ear/jaw swelled up, causing difficulty speaking and eating. The pain was horrible! The first night, I counted down the minutes for my next dose of ibuprofen. I made it through 3 doses of this poison and decided I needed a second opinion. Went to my PCP who urged me to STOP taking the drops immediately! Switched to Amoxicillin and praying for a speedy recovery. Taking ciprodex was the worst decision I’ve ever made! I just want it to get out of my system fast so I can move on from this over-priced poison!"

• Lin...
• August 12, 2017

"While this med helped my ear pain and infection heal... the swollen mouth, jaw, tongue, and face were too unbearable I quit the drops after 4 days. My doc advised me there was no way my swelling came from the drops. I insisted on prednisone and then picked up zyrtec, pepcid, and benydryl Those meds, combined with 50 mg of prednisone I'm feeling much better. I'm allergic to penicillin. I'm wondering if my pcn allergy is related to my cipro allergy. I'll never go back to that doctor."