My husband has chronic ear infections and it got worst where he has pain and almost complete hearing loss. what over the counter medicine is the best antibiotic to rectify the issue?

An evaluation by ENT may include a culture to identify bacteria and resistance patterns. The selection of a broad antibiotic may include Augmentin, after seeing your physician. If he has sinus infections or has had pneumonia, please discuss an immune work up. A virtual consult with Healthtap is available.

Some one nerds to look in his ears to see what is going on. Most likely ear wax problem. You can get a Otoscope at most drug stores and look yourself. If it looks like ear wax use wax removing ear drops and get ear irrigating kit a drug store. If you don’t see wax (you can giggle it and view images take him to walk in clinic at Walgreens or CVS.

With hearing loss, escalating his care to an ENT specialist that may be able to further clarify will be needed. Antibiotics are not over the counter and not likely to help if used blindly.

Virtually all effective antibiotics are available by prescription, not OTC, but many are generic and cheaper. Suggest you see otolaryngologist. We here at HT can arrange a virtual consult on the paid portion of our site (www.connect@healthtap.com)