Here is your short essay on Ear Drops

Ear drops are liquid preparation or suspension or emulsion or solution of drug(s) in water, diluted alcohol, glycerin or polyethylene glycol intended for instillation into the ear.

Aqueous solutions are not suitable because the secretions in ear are mainly fatty and aqueous solutions do not easily mix with them. Eye drops are generally safe for the ears even if there is a hole in the eardrum. The ingredients of ear drops are different depending on the purpose, 15 ml to be dispensed unless otherwise directed.

Ear drops range from liquids designed to soften ear wax, to medicines made to cure bacterial infections, to medicines against fungus. Many kinds of eye drops can be used in the ear but the opposite is not true. Ear drops are too harsh for the eyes.

Ear drops fall into two major practical categories

1. Those that are gentle enough to be safe in the part of ear behind the ear drum,

2. Those are not safe for ear drum.

How to Use Ear Drops?

1. Warm the ear drop bottle by holding it in your hands for a few minutes. Shake the bottle well.

2. Unscrew the cap of the bottle and draw some liquid into the dropper.

3. Either lie on your side or tilt your head over so that the ear which needs the drops is facing upwards.

4. Gently pull your earlobe upwards, away from your neck, and squeeze the correct number of drops into the ear.

5. Keep your head tilted for about five minutes so that the drops can spread into the ear.

6. Straighten your head and wipe away any extra liquid with a clean tissue.

7. Replace the cap on the bottle.

8. Store your ear drops in a cool, dark place.

9. You must use your ear drops for the full length of the treatment course, even if your ear feels better. If you stop too soon, your ear problems may return.

10. While using your ear drops, try not to get water in your ear. Be careful when washing your hair and do not go for swimming until the course is finished.

11. When you have finished your course of treatment, throw any leftover drops away, or return them to your pharmacist for disposal.

Don’t mix-up! Eyes drops or ear drops? Ear drops never go in the eye, but some eye products can be used safely in the ear.

Containers

Ear drops should be supplied in containers of glass or suitable plastic which are fitted with an integral dropper or with a cap of suitable materials incorporating a suitable dropper tube and rubber or plastic teat. Alternatively, such cap assembly is supplied separately.

Labeling:

Comply with the general requirements for labeling on the ear drops container. It should clearly state that the prescription is intended ‘for external use only’.

Example 01:

Prepare and dispense Aluminium Acetate Ear Drops.

Aluminium sulphate 4.5 g

Acetate acid 5.0 ml

Tartaric acid 0.9 g

Calcium carbonate 2.0 g

Purified water 15.0 ml

Method of Dispensing:

Weigh required amount of aluminium sulphate and dissolve in 10.0 ml of purified water, add acetic acid and then calcium carbonate. Add remaining amount of purified water and mix properly. Allow to stand for not less than twenty-four hours in a cool place and stir occasionally. Filter the solution after twenty-four hours. Add tartaric acid in the filtrate and mix.

Example 02:

Prepare and dispense Sodium Bicarbonate Ear Drops.

Sodium bicarbonate 0.75 g

Glycerin 4.5 ml

Purified water, sufficient to produce 15.0 ml

Method of Dispensing:

Dissolve sodium bicarbonate in freshly boiled and cooled purified water and mix glycerin. Make up the volume with purified water to produce 15.0 ml.

Example 03:

Prepare and dispense Hydrogen Peroxide Ear Drops.

Hydrogen peroxide solution (6.0%) 3.75 ml

Purified water, sufficient to produce 15.0 ml

Method of Dispensing:

Mix measured amount of hydrogen peroxide solution with purified water and filter the solution.

Example 04:

Prepare and dispense Boric Acid Ear Drops

Boric acid is produced from native borax or from the other borates by reacting with hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid. It is colorless scales of a somewhat pearly luster or crystals but more commonly a white powder slightly unctuous to the touch. It is odorless and stable in air and volatilizes with steam. It is slightly soluble in water hence in this preparation denatured spirit is used as it enhances the solubility of boric acid in purified water. It is a very weak germicide. It is nonirritating hence suitable for application to delicate structures such as cornea of the eye.

Boric acid 0.1 g

Specially denatured spirit 3.0 ml

Purified water, sufficient to produce 15.0 ml

Method of Dispensing:

Weighed quantity of boric acid is to be dissolved in denatured spirit and add purified water to make sufficient volume. Filter to remove impurities, if any and dspense in a suitable container.

Example 05:

Prepare and dispense Chloramphenicol Ear Drops.

Chloramphenicol 0.75 g

Propylene glycol, sufficient to produce 15.0 ml

Method of Dispensing:

Dissolve Chloramphenicol in propylene glycol, shake and add remaining quantity of propylene glycol to produce sufficient volume of 15 ml.

Example 06:

Prepare and dispense Ichthammol Ear Drops.

Ichthammol consists of the ammonium salts of the sulphuric acids of an oily substance prepared from a bituminous schist or shale, or from other sources, together with ammonium sulphate and water. It is black viscid liquid, which has characteristic strong odor. It is miscible in water, alcohol, glycerin and with fixed oils. It is used as antiparasitic and irritant,

Glycerin, sufficient to produce 15.0 ml

Method of Dispensing:

Weighed amount of Ichthammol is mixed with glycerin and dispensed in suitable container.