Antihistamines to Treat Ear Pain

Ear pain can be caused by a lot of things, such as a cold, the flu or an infection. In some cases, treating ear pain can be done through taking an antihistamine, which gets you feeling better and in less pain in no time.

Causes

• Ear infections are caused simply by a flu, cold or anything that causes congestion. The fluid and mucus that builds up flow into the ears, cause pressure and infection, then ear pain.

Take an Antihistamine

• An antihistamine alleviates this pain by clearing up the excess fluid and thus keeping it from spilling over into the ear.

Over-the-Counter

• Over-the-counter antihistamines are a popular and easy-to-find form of treatment available in both adult and child form. They are usually separated into two categories. There is first-generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, or second generation, such as loratadine.

First Generation

• First-generation antihistamines are taken more sparingly at the onset of allergies or ear pain. They contain a few side effects, such as drowsiness, so they shouldn't be mixed with alcohol or taken before strenuous activity.

Second Generation

• Second-generation antihistamines are taken over a long period of time, and they generally focus on treating reoccurring allergies, which is why they may not be best for treating ear pain. Since they are meant to be taken daily, these antihistamines don't carry side effects like drowsiness.

Prescription

• Your doctor can also prescribe to you a stronger antihistamine that may come in pill or nasal spray form. Typically, nasal spray clears up symptoms faster, but the pill form may be prescribed if you are suffering from a serious cold that is causing ear pain, since nasal spray can be addictive and shouldn't be used for more than a few days.