Neomycin, polymyxin B, and hydrocortisone

This is not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before starting or changing any treatment. Information here is based on personal experiences and may not apply to everyone.

Neomycin, polymyxin B, and hydrocortisone

Alternative Names: Corticosporin Otic

Cortisporin Otic is an ear drop used to treat bacterial otitis externa (swimmer’s ear). It combines two antibiotics (neomycin and polymyxin B) with hydrocortisone, a steroid that reduces inflammation and itching. It’s typically applied several times a day for up to 10 days, but should not be used if the eardrum is perforated. Some people may have allergic reactions, especially to neomycin.

Treatment Type: Prescription Medication

Treatment Class: N/A

Treatment Modality: N/A

Neomycin, polymyxin B, and hydrocortisone

Review Summary

5.0

1 Reviews

Preferred by 1 Reviewers

Neomycin, polymyxin B, and hydrocortisone (Cortisporin Otic) is a commonly used first-line treatment for uncomplicated cases of swimmer's ear (bacterial otitis externa). Its combination of broad-spectrum antibiotics and hydrocortisone effectively reduces infection and inflammation, and its generic form makes it a cost-effective option that has been in use for decades.

This summary was generated by users' reviews

Breakdown by Category

Each categories are rated on a 1–5 scale, with 5 being the most favorable outcome and 1 being the least. These scores are averaged across all user reviews to provide a clear sense of how this treatment typically performs in each area.

Cost

4.0

1 = Very Expensive 5 = Very Affordable

4.0

Affordable

Relief Speed

4.0

1 = No Relief 5 = Immediate Relief

4.0

Fast Relief

Side Effects

4.0

1 = Intolerable Effect 5 = No Effect

4.0

Mild Effect

Treatment Line

5.0

1 = Third-line or more 5 = First-line

5.0

First-line

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5.0

1 Reviews

100%

AI Summary of User Experiences

Not medical advice.

Reviews

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Cost

Very Expensive

$1000+

Expensive

$501 to $1000

Moderate Cost

$101 to $500

Affordable

$25 to $100

Very Affordable

$25

Relief Speed

No Relief

No noticeable improvement

Slow Relief

Several days to weeks

Moderate Relief

Within 1 - 3 days

Fast Relief

Within hours

Immediate Relief

Within minutes

Side Effect

Intolerable Side Effect

Caused treatment to stop or required hospitalization

Severe Side Effect

Difficult to tolerate, may require intervention

Moderate Side Effect

Noticeable, but manageable

Mild Side Effect

Minor, not bothersome

No Side Effect

Without any adverse effects

Treatment Line

Third-line or more

Used after second-line failed or multiple prior treatment

Second-line

Used after first-line treatment failed or was unsuitable

First-line

First treatment tried

Dr. Curbside

Verified

Physician • Emergency Medicine • How doctors think about decisions — and what real-world experiences add

2 months ago

Cortisporin Otic is commonly used as a first-line treatment for bacterial otitis externa, especially in uncomplicated cases. Its combination of broad-spectrum antibiotics (neomycin and polymyxin B) and hydrocortisone makes it effective for reducing both infection and inflammation. It's been in use for decades and is generally inexpensive, especially in its generic form, making it a cost-effective option.

#ReviewersPreferred #Affordable #CoveredByInsurance #FastRelief #MildEffect #First-line #Rescue/EmergencyUse

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