“What is the best painkiller for ear pain?”

Hi,

It depends on what is causing your ear pain. If you have an ear infection you would need antibiotics. If you have a nerve issue then it would be best to get evaluated to figure out the treatment plan. If it’s not an infection, Ear pain can be caused by nerve issues and muscle issues and also jaw issues. The specific cause would be treated differently with each issue. There are injections to help as well as medications.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen. Topical ear drops containing local anesthetics and pain medicine may also be prescribed by your doctor.

In order to answer that question, I would need to know more about the ear pain. The first step in treating pain is always to diagnose the cause of the pain and then determine the best treatment. For instance, is the ear pain from an infection? If so, an antibiotic and ear drops may provide the best pain relief. If the ear pain is related to tinnitus, it is much more difficult to treat. There are many other causes of ear pain, so diagnosing the cause is key.

James Sigler, MD

Hello,

It really depends on the cause of the ear pain. Recommend to see an ENT Specialist.

Dr. D