Rarely, some unfortunate souls have chronic draining ear infections that do not respond well to oral antibiotics nor antibiotic ear drops. What many people and even physicians are unaware of is that there are alternative ways of addressing the chronic draining ear including use of antibiotics in powder form.
The method I like best is by using the Sheehy-House Powder Insufflator Bulb.
The pharmacy will make up gelcaps containing antibiotics (anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal) and even steroids (usually hydrocortisone).
One first removes the tip of the insufflator bulb.
Than open up the gelcap such that the powder is all in one side and insert into the insufflator tip compartment.
Than replace the bulb tip.
During an active infection, the powder is "puffed" into the ear twice a day. Once back to normal, one puff weekly prevents the ear from becoming infected again. This method eliminates adding more "moisture" to the ear (as when happens when using antibiotic ear drops) as the powder not only addresses the infection, but the drainage itself becomes a medium for the antibiotic powder to do its thing.
Keep in mind that this method requires a prescription and the gelcaps must be compounded. As such, not all pharmacies may be able to fill and not all health insurances will cover compounded medications.
Some common recipes are shown below. Each ingredient is pulverized and placed into a Lilly #4 gel capsule. Capsules should be refrigerated, except the one stored in the insufflator. The insufflator with the capsule in it should not be refrigerated. The exact recipe used depends on the ear infection present.
Recipe #1:
Chloramphenicol 50mg
Sulfanilamide 50mg
Amphotericin 5mg
Recipe #2:
Chloramphenicol 50mg
Sulfanilamide 50mg
Amphotericin 5mg
Hydrocortisone 1mg
Recipe #3:
Chloramphenicol 50mg
Amphotericin 5mg
Recipe #4:
Chloramphenicol 50mg
Amphotericin 5mg
Hydrocortisone 1mg
Recipe #5:
Chloromycetin 50mg
Sulfanilimide 50mg
Fungizone 5mg
Hydrocortisone 1mg
Recipe #6:
Chloromycetin 50mg
Sulfanilimide 50mg
Fungizone 5mg
The method I like best is by using the Sheehy-House Powder Insufflator Bulb.
The pharmacy will make up gelcaps containing antibiotics (anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal) and even steroids (usually hydrocortisone).
One first removes the tip of the insufflator bulb.
Than open up the gelcap such that the powder is all in one side and insert into the insufflator tip compartment.
Than replace the bulb tip.
During an active infection, the powder is "puffed" into the ear twice a day. Once back to normal, one puff weekly prevents the ear from becoming infected again. This method eliminates adding more "moisture" to the ear (as when happens when using antibiotic ear drops) as the powder not only addresses the infection, but the drainage itself becomes a medium for the antibiotic powder to do its thing.
Keep in mind that this method requires a prescription and the gelcaps must be compounded. As such, not all pharmacies may be able to fill and not all health insurances will cover compounded medications.
Some common recipes are shown below. Each ingredient is pulverized and placed into a Lilly #4 gel capsule. Capsules should be refrigerated, except the one stored in the insufflator. The insufflator with the capsule in it should not be refrigerated. The exact recipe used depends on the ear infection present.
Recipe #1:
Chloramphenicol 50mg
Sulfanilamide 50mg
Amphotericin 5mg
Recipe #2:
Chloramphenicol 50mg
Sulfanilamide 50mg
Amphotericin 5mg
Hydrocortisone 1mg
Recipe #3:
Chloramphenicol 50mg
Amphotericin 5mg
Recipe #4:
Chloramphenicol 50mg
Amphotericin 5mg
Hydrocortisone 1mg
Recipe #5:
Chloromycetin 50mg
Sulfanilimide 50mg
Fungizone 5mg
Hydrocortisone 1mg
Recipe #6:
Chloromycetin 50mg
Sulfanilimide 50mg
Fungizone 5mg
