Otigo Ear Drops

What are Otigo Ear Drops?

Otigo 40mg/10mg/g ear drops solution contains two active substances: phenazone and lidocaine hydrochloride. Phenazone acts as an analgesic (pain reliever), while lidocaine hydrochloride is a local anaesthetic. These ingredients work together to provide local symptomatic treatment and relief of pain in conditions of the middle ear without tympanic perforation, such as acute inflammation, inflammation following flu, and barotraumatic damage (barotraumatic otitis).

How does Otigo work?

Otigo is a combined anaesthetic-analgesic ear drop. It is a good alternative to paracetamol or ibuprofen. It can reduce the need for antibiotics, helping to reduce the overuse of antibiotics and the reduction of resistance

What kind of ear infections is Otigo used for?

Otigo is used for a condition called acute Otitis Media. So it's important for us to make sure we are treating the correct type of ear infection. Otitis externa and acute otitis media are both ear infections, but they affect different parts of the ear and have distinct causes and symptoms

Otitis externa affects the external ear canal and is often caused by moisture and bacterial or fungal infections, while acute otitis media affects the middle ear and is typically caused by bacterial or viral infections resulting in fluid buildup behind the eardrum. Treatment for both conditions involves addressing the underlying infection and managing symptoms.

Should I get antibiotics?

Antibiotics are not always the best treatment for ear infections.

• Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, so they won't help if the infection is viral or fungal in nature
• Unnecessary use of antibiotics can contribute to antibiotic resistance, a serious global health issue. When antibiotics are used frequently or inappropriately, bacteria can develop resistance, making future infections harder to treat
• Antibiotics can have side effects, ranging from mild digestive upset to severe allergic reactions. By avoiding antibiotics when they're not needed, we can reduce the risk of side effects

For these reasons using a pain relieving treatment like Otigo can be a good option for some people where a bacterial infection is not present.

How to use Otigo

Otigo is for use on the external ear only.

1. Unscrew the bottle cap
2. Screw the dropper applicator
3. Remove the protective dropper cap
4. Tilt your head on one side with your affected ear facing upwards
5. Turn the bottle down and gently squeeze the dropper until a drop is dispensed into the ear
6. Press again to dispense the required number of drops
7. Lie flat on your side
8. Place back the white protective dropper cap after use

The recommended dosage for Otigo is 4 drops, 2 or 3 times daily into the outer ear canal of the affected ear. The bottle should be warmed before use to avoid unpleasant contact of the ear with the cold solution. If symptoms do not improve within 7 days or worsen rapidly, it's advised to consult a doctor.

How long does Otigo take to work?

If symptoms do not improve within 7 days or worsen rapidly, it's advised to consult a doctor.

Otigo ingredients

Each bottle of Otigo contains the active ingredients: phenazone and lidocaine hydrochloride.

The other ingredients are: Sodium thiosulfate, Ethanol, Glycerol, Purified water

Otigo side effects

As with all medications, Otigo can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them and most of the reported side effects only happen in rare circumstances affecting less than 1 in 1000 people

Potential side effects of Otigo are rare and may include local allergic reactions (itching, rash) and redness of the auditory canal.

Please ensure that you have read the Patient Information Leaflet before use.

Otigo warnings

Before using Otigo Ear drops, please ensure that you have read all the information detailed in the Patient Information Leaflet.

It should not be used in the eyes or nose and should not be swallowed.

Do not use Otigo:

• If you are allergic to the active substances or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• If you have perforated or burst ear drum (tympanic perforation) this includes cases when your ear drum has been perforated during a surgical manipulation

If you have perforated ear drum membrane (even when the ear drum membrane was perforated during surgical manipulation) this medicine may cause side effects in the middle ear. Except ear pain, other common symptoms of perforated ear drum are: vertigo (spinning sensation); hearing change or loss, often with ringing, buzzing, or clicking; fluid or blood draining from the ear. It is recommended that the doctor checks if your tympanic membrane (ear drum) is intact, before prescribing this medicine.

Otigo contains lidocaine (a local anaesthetic) used for pain relief as an active ingredient. Methemoglobinemia (a blood disorder characterized by elevated levels of methemoglobin in the blood, which leads to tissue hypoxia) has been reported following the topical use of local anaesthetics. Otigo should be used with caution in patients who are susceptible to methemoglobinemia, including infants under 3 months of age and patients with haemoglobinopathies or Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.

Otigo Storage

Otigo should be stored in the original package, protected from light, and out of reach of children. It can be used up to 6 months after first opening the bottle. Unused medicine should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Instead, consult a pharmacist for proper disposal methods.

What if I complete in athletics?

The attention of athletes should be drawn to the fact that this medicine contains an active ingredient which may give a positive result in anti-doping tests.

Sources

• https://www.medicines.org.uk/e...