(Having someone else give you the ear drops may make this procedure easier.)
| 1Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. |
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| 2Gently clean your ear with a damp facecloth and then dry your ear. |
| 3 Warm the drops to near body temperature by holding the container in the palm of your hand for a few minutes. |
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| 4 If the drops are a cloudy suspension, shake the bottle well for 10 seconds. |
| 5 Check the dropper tip to make sure that it is not chipped or cracked. |
| 6 Draw the medication into the dropper, or hold the dropper-top bottle with the dropper tip down. |
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7Tilt the affected ear up or lie on your side. Pull the ear backward and upward (or if giving
to a child younger than 3 years of age, pull backward and downward) to open
the ear canal.
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8 Place the correct number of drops in your ear. Gently press on the small skin flap over the ear to help the drops to run into the ear canal
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| 9 Keep your ear tilted up for a few minutes or insert a soft cotton plug in your ear, whichever method has been recommended by your pharmacist or doctor. |
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| 10 Replace and tighten the cap or dropper right away. |
| 11 Wash your hands to remove any medication. |
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Remember
- Follow directions carefully
- Do not miss doses
- Store medications out of reach of children
The 'How to Administer' illustrations shown on SafeMedication.com were developed by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) using referenced publications and existing patient information. The illustrations are the sole intellectual property of ASHP. Copyright ASHP. Illustrator: Kirk Moldoff Studios, Princeton, N.J.