Cetraxal and Cetraxal Plus ear drops

Cetraxal and Cetraxal Plus are antibacterial agents, eliminating bacterial infections and reducing inflammation in the ear.

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Cetraxal and Cetraxal Plus can be prescribed online following a short consultation with one of our doctors. Please complete the free consultation questionnaire to continue.

What are Cetraxal/Cetraxal Plus ear drops?

Cetraxal is for the treatment of bacterial infections of the outer ear (the medical term is acute otitis externa) where the eardrum is intact. Cetraxal Plus is for the treatment of acute otitis externa but also can be used to treat bacterial infections of the middle ear (acute otitis media) in people with ear draining tubes (tympanostomy tubes).

Cetraxal and Cetraxal Plus ear drops contain an active ingredient called ciprofloxacin hydrochloride that is an antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics. Cetraxal Plus also contains another active compound called fluocinolone acetonide that is a corticosteroid.

Ciprofloxacin works by stopping the bacteria that cause infections from reproducing; since the bacteria cannot multiply, the infection clears up. Fluocinolone acetonide is an anti-inflammatory agent, which relieves the itching, pain, and swelling caused by the infection.

How to use Cetraxal/Cetraxal Plus ear drops

These medicines are provided in single-dose containers as a clear solution for use in the ear only. Cetraxal contains 2 mg/ml of Ciprofloxacin, and Cetraxal Plus contains 3 mg/ml of ciprofloxacin plus 0.25 mg/ml of fluocinolone acetonide.

The recommended dose is the total contents of one single-dose container introduced into the infected ear two times a day for seven days. However, your doctor will tell you how long to use the medicine; it is important that you do not stop before this time or the infection could return. If your symptoms do not at least begin to improve within a week of starting treatment, or once the course of treatment has ended, you must tell your doctor if you feel that you have not improved or you feel worse. Unless both ears are affected, use this medicine only in the ear that your doctor tells you to.

Full instructions, with pictures, on how to use these ear drops are given in the pack. Before starting, wash your hands and clean your outer ear. Taking one single-dose container, warm it in your hands for a few minutes (you can feel dizzy if a cold solution is placed into the ear), and then remove the cap. Lie or tilt your head, keeping the affected ear upward, and introduce the drops into the ear. Stay in this position (do not move or raise your head) for at least one minute so that the solution goes down the ear canal and does not run out. With outer ear infections, gently pull the top of your outer ear lobe upwards and outwards. This enables the ear drops to flow more easily down the ear canal. With middle ear infections (Cetraxal Plus), push the small flap of cartilage at the front of the ear canal (tragus) inwards four times, to facilitate passage of the drops through the grommet in the eardrum into the middle ear. The single-dose container should be disposed of after use.

If you accidently dispense two of the single-dose containers into one of your ears at a dosing session or swallow the ear drops, then seek medical advice. If you miss a dose, then continue with one single-dose container at the time of the next dose and do not use two single-dose containers.

Who can use Cetraxal/Cetraxal Plus ear drops?

Cetraxal can be used by adults and by children aged 1 year and older with an outer ear infection and an intact eardrum. Cetraxal should be used with caution in people with a known or a suspected or a risk of perforation of the eardrum (tympanic membrane). Cetraxal Plus is for adults and for children aged 6 months and older with infections of the outer ear and middle ear with ear draining tubes.

You should not use Cetraxal/Cetraxal Plus ear drops if you have an allergy to ciprofloxacin, another quinolone, fluocinolone acetonide (Cetraxal Plus only) or any other components of these medicines. The drops must only be used for infections caused by bacteria and not by a virus or a fungus. Always take advice from your doctor before using this or any other medicine if you are planning a baby, may be or are pregnant, or breast-feeding.

Discuss with your doctor all medicines obtained either with or without a prescription used currently or taken recently. Do not use other ear medicines at the same time as Cetraxal/Cetraxal Plus.

Cetraxal/Cetraxal Plus ear drops side effects

Rarely these treatments can cause hives, skin rash, blisters, scaling or sores, breathing difficulties, or other allergic symptoms such as swelling of the face, throat, hands, or feet. Very rarely, a serious allergic reaction called Stevens-Johnson syndrome (fever, red skin patches, eye problems and/or joint pain) has been reported. If you experience these symptoms, stop this treatment immediately and get medical attention.

Some people experience discomfort (pain or itching) in the ear or an abnormal taste. While uncommon, other effects in the ear may include ringing, tingling, redness, swelling, blockage of ear draining tube, eardrum disorder, reduced hearing, middle ear infection of the other ear, and discharge. Dizziness, headache, mood changes, vomiting, other infections, or fatigue may also occur. Blurred vision and other visual disturbances should be reported to you doctor.