Ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone otic and Swelling: What Users Say

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

Ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone otic for Otitis Externa "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!"

• Jen...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 30, 2021

Ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone otic for Middle Ear Infections "I love Ciprodex. I have been using this stuff for years for any and all ear infections. I always request it from my doctor over any other drop. My technique is: 1. Heating pad on the affected ear. 2. Lie on your non-affected ear at night or back/stomach. 3. Advil. First 2 days I take 800 mg twice a day. 4. Days 3+ I take 400 mg every 6 to 8 hours. 5. Always keep your serum levels up. Trust me, this one is huge. 6. Take drops as directed. It is normal for the ear to hurt, swell, woosh, etc. It's working. Drink lots of tea or soup. Keep your head covered and avoid wind/fans. Be careful of getting water in your ear from the shower. And do not use Q-tips to clean your ears. Just don't put anything in your ear, period. Even your finger. Use a cloth around your finger that is clean if you must scratch or clean in the future. Never put anything in your ear when it's infected, period. If you use earphones or earbuds, be sure to rest your ears and clean the devices constantly. Be sure to clean your pillowcases often."

• gga...
• August 30, 2018

Ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone otic for Middle Ear Infections "Ciprodex costs $270 out of pocket with no insurance or coupons. These ear drops are painful and can cause some swelling and discomfort. It felt as if they were only making my pain worse, even while taking prescribed ibuprofen. Do NOT, however, stop taking them without the permission of a doctor. That is misuse of an antibiotic. I will admit that I almost contacted a doctor myself because of excruciating pain from taking the ear drops. I am on the 7th day of dealing with a severe otitis media/externa infection, 4th day taking Ciprodex, and my condition has only improved. I am unsure the price is worth it, but you will see improvements if you are able to overcome the side effects of the medication. After a few days, it seems itching is my sole side effect. If your side effects are more severe, you should definitely consider switching with a doctor's advice. Overall, these ear drops have helped me a lot—the side effects were outweighed by the benefits, but the price was off-putting."

• Dus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 8, 2020

Ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone otic for Middle Ear Infections "Have been having on and off ear pain and swelling for two months. I’m a surfer in and out of the water every day, living in Central America with nothing but an GP in an ER clinic available for medical help. First, was prescribed by an ER clinic doc Cipo BID for 6 days, which made the infection seem like it was going away with mild relief, only to have it come back with a vengeance a week later but all swelling in the neck and jaw and pain but I could hear, and the ear canal was clear. Back to the clinic. Prescribed Clamicil BID (amoxicillin) and Ciprodex drops, 3 drops every 8 hours. The Clamicil was working great. 24 hours of the drops and my ear had swollen shut. Severe pain and itching and discharge. The doc said, oh well, just stop using them then. Why even prescribe them?! I’m worse off than when I went in. Luckily, they’re not expensive here, I only paid $20 for the bottle. Continuing the amoxicillin and moving on to seeing an acupuncturist for the swelling. Do not use these!"

• Mat...
• July 11, 2018

Ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone otic for Middle Ear Infections "This was a fairly scary experience for me. The review that explained how the doctor assured them there was no way Ciprodex was causing the swelling and pain, yeah... that doctor needs to get a clue. Had an ear infection for a week. Nothing but inner ear pain and redness on the ear. Used amoxicillin for 3 days. Wasn't helping. So they prescribed me Ciprodex. This was day ten. No swelling, no jaw pain. 3 hours after taking it, my wife noticed that the side of my face was HUGE. I couldn't eat anything because of intense jaw pain and could barely even talk, with redness all around my ear. Used for two days because I read that sometimes it can be the infection that can cause certain things. It only got worse, of course. Now, 3 days after, I am just about back to normal, with the infection still. Didn't want to take it for 2-3 days with those side effects, but I paid $230 for this tiny bottle. Can be cheaper with insurance, but new job and it doesn't kick in for another month. Be careful."

• flu...
• November 12, 2018

Ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone otic for Otitis Externa "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 earwax was poking my eardrum and the back of my ear. Spent the entire day trying to get it out with earwax remover and water. Advil got me to sleep. The day after, I went to the doctor, who prescribed Ciprodex. It hurt quite a bit, but less than the pain from before. I took Advil 2 or 3 times that day. The next day, my ear felt inflamed. Sometimes I felt sharp pain at the back of my ear, but I didn't need Advil that day, though. The next after that is today. It just feels like there's earwax 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)."

• Mol...
• December 30, 2016

Ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone otic for Otitis Externa "I have only been on this medication for one day for both internal and external ear infections. Within hours of taking it, my ear started to swell even more than it already was, causing it to hurt tremendously to open my mouth, chew, and even swallow. I was in pain before, but since taking Ciprodex, the pain has increased a substantial amount. I was told it should get better within 48 hours. I can't take the drops anymore due to all the swelling and pain, also hearing loss. I'm hoping this clears up soon with just the pal medication I was also prescribed."

• gle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2016

Ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone otic for Middle Ear Infections "A doctor prescribed this for an inner ear infection caused by another medication. I used it twice, and the pain in my ear has increased tremendously, there is swelling and itching, my tongue is swelling, and everything tastes funny. I have also had three episodes of dizziness, and my entire head and face itch. I'm a veteran, was not able to get this through the VA because of a weekend emergency, and don't have any other insurance except Medicare. The cost was $222.90, and another $81.00 for another oral medicine that I could only take one time and had to throw up. Hopefully, my ears will eventually heal themselves without any more help from the doctor because I can't afford being a guinea pig."

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

Ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone otic for Otitis Externa "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. The PA prescribed me Ciprodex 2x a 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. I went to my PCP, who urged me to STOP taking the drops immediately! I switched to Amoxicillin and am 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 overpriced poison!"

• Lin...
• August 12, 2017

Ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone otic for Otitis Externa "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 Benadryl. 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."

• fll...
• October 4, 2021

For Otitis Externa "I have chronic ear infections, ever since I was a baby, and I’ve never had tubes or anything, so I’m used to ear pain. However, at 21 years old, I just got my first outer ear infection and was given these drops. I was better off before these drops, honestly, it was so painful, and I'm hearing that a lot reading these reviews. I’m glad it wasn’t just me. My ear swelled up insanely, super bright red and getting purple, and I couldn’t talk. It caused my entire left side to be in excruciating pain, including my neck. Who knows, something like that could’ve been a reaction too. On the 3rd day, I finally went and got something else that worked within the first 24 hours, thankfully!"

• Pai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2021

For Otitis Externa "Took this for a mild swimmer's ear infection. After I started taking drops, I felt ear pain. Then, as I continued, intense pain and swelling in my ear and jaw. By the second day, it felt like someone punched me in the ear and hurt my jaw. Finally stopped and took neomycin drops instead. Pain and swelling subsided. Ear is healing. Worst experience with ear drops ever."