Fluticasone nasal spray is available over the counter and is a nasal steroid spray. It is frequently recommended or prescribed for chronic eustachian tube dysfunction.
The treatment for ETD is aimed at opening up the eustachian tube in the back of the nose. The main treatment is using a steroid nasal spray to help shrink the tissue where the ear drains. Nasal steroid (Flonase, Nasonex, Nasacort) – 2 sprays into each nostril twice daily.
Try antihistamines (like cetirizine or diphenhydramine) to ease your symptoms. If you have discomfort, pain relievers — such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen — can help. When an infection causes ETD, your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics. They may also give you corticosteroids to help with inflammation.
Point the nozzle towards your neck or ear. Bend your head and look at the floor as you spray into your nose. Keep sniffing as you spray but only hard enough to feel it in the back of the nose. Pinch your nose as you pop your ear and blow gently (this action draws the spray into the eustachian tube).
The patulous Eustachian tube is treated with saline nasal irrigation, estrogen-nasal ointment, and craniocervical manual therapy; causal treatments are evaluated. Keywords: Ear diseases; Eustachian tube; Middle ear; Sensorineural hearing loss; Tinnitus.
When your sinuses are blocked, or irritated, your Eustachian tubes can become blocked as well. This is why sinus medication can help you clear your ears. Antihistamines (Chlophenarimine, Entex, ternafdine (Seldane) will help. Also, decongestants as discussed above and nasal steroids can help.
Myringotomy (ear tube placement)
Through this outpatient ENT surgery, we make a small incision in the eardrum and place a pressure equalization tube in it to allow fluid to escape. As a result, it not only resolves chronic earaches, but Eustachian tube problems as well.
Close your mouth, hold your nose, and gently blow as if you are blowing your nose. Yawning and chewing gum also may help. You may hear or feel a "pop" when the tubes open to make the pressure equal between the inside and outside of your ears.
Decongestant nose drops or nasal sprays
Nose drops and nasal sprays can reduce swelling in the mucous membranes. They are used to help open up the passages leading to the middle ear. But research has not shown that decongestants help make middle ear infections go away faster or relieve the symptoms.
Pseudoephedrine is used to relieve nasal or sinus congestion caused by the common cold, sinusitis, and hay fever and other respiratory allergies. It is also used to relieve ear congestion caused by ear inflammation or infection.
If ETD is caused by allergies, antihistamines such as Benadryl and Zyrtec may help you find relief. OTC pain relievers like Tylenol and Advil may also help relieve mild pain caused by ETD. If your symptoms last more than two weeks, see a doctor.
Chronic ETD is unlikely to go away on its own and must be treated by a healthcare professional.
The most common cause for the Eustachian tube not opening up is inflammation, mucus, and fluid buildup caused either by a common cold like the flu, allergies, or a sinus infection.
What are the causes of Eustachian tube dysfunction? Colds, flus, sinus infections, or allergies can cause the Eustachian tube in one or both ears to become inflamed, preventing proper mucus drainage and leading to symptoms.
Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) - Symptoms usually follow the onset of an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) or allergic rhinitis; symptoms include aural fullness, difficulty popping ears, intermittent sharp ear pain, hearing loss, tinnitus, and disequilibrium.
Consider a decongestant.
Dr. Modi says this is also true for pill decongestants like Sudafed or Allegra D. “These medicines are great short-term therapies for really bad sinus pressure and ear clog symptoms, but after two or three days you should probably think about taking a break from them,” he says.
Most cases of Eustachian tube dysfunction clear up in a few days with the help of over-the-counter medication and home remedies, but symptoms can last one to two weeks. If you're still having symptoms after two weeks, or they're getting worse, you may need more aggressive treatment.
Pseudoephedrine is an ingredient found in oral decongestants. Oral decongestants are used in the treatment of eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) and can help decrease peritubal edema provoked by allergies or URI.
Pop Your Ears by Holding Your Nose
Then close your mouth and nostrils with your fingers. Lightly blow out against the pressure. This should make your ears pop. The pressure you're blowing against forces your Eustachian tubes open a little which drains pressure and fluid stuck in your ear.
“The first line of defense for those experiencing muffled hearing or clogged ears due to allergies is over-the-counter antihistamines,” says Patel. “Medications like Claritin, Zyrtec and their generic bottles can begin working within a few days.”
Sometimes, your eustachian tubes can become blocked due to colds, allergies or infections. Clogged eustachian tubes may resolve on their own or with the use of decongestants, antibiotics or other medications.
Diagnosing Obstructive Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Over time, negative pressure can build up in the ear, causing pain, ear fullness and muffled hearing. When this occurs, sometimes your doctor can see the ear drum (tympanic membrane) change shape due to this pressure and become concave.
Massaging your eustachian tubes is a great way to combat ear infection pain. Using a gentle amount of pressure, press lightly on the area along the back of the ear that meets your jawbone, continuously push and release this flap of skin several times to open the eustachian tubes up.