clogged ear - how long can you take sudafed?

[rykairn]

I've been asked to take sudafed or other decongestants to try and help clear up a clogged ear issue, but was told it could take 4-6 weeks before you see any improvement.  

Is it safe to take sudafed for such a long period of time?  Has anyone else had to do this?  What was your experience?

[ENTMD]

There is no good evidence that taking drugs such as Sudafed or any other decongestant will clear up a "clogged ear".  I would not recommend that you do that at all.

Many times some (non-ENT) doctors try to treat Eustachian tube dysfunction and/or middle ear fluid with decongestants.  It simply doesn't work.  Only 2 things can correct this problem -- time (even up to 3 months) or making a hole in the ear drum.

[rykairn]

Here's a brief synopsis of my history:

I had a severe upper respiratory infection a month ago. During this time, a nurse at an office visit cleared out my ears with a bulb syringe (there was wax build-up). After this point, I felt like there was still "water" in my ear. However, the outer ear looked clean on inspection. Two weeks later at a follow up, I discussed with the PA that the "fullness" feeling hadn't disappeared. She mentioned that the outer ear still looked clear, and felt there was probably some fluid in the middle ear. She said my canal is slightly curved, which made it difficult to tell for sure - but the eardrum looked normal and healthy and wasn't bulging one way or the other.

I was told to take decongestants and that my symptoms should clear up within 4-6 weeks. After a week on the decongestants, the symptoms has continued and I also started to have some level of autophony (not severe, but mild to moderate and definitely noticeable almost all the time). The only relief I have from this comes in the morning after having been lying down for quite some time. However, the symptoms are fully back within an hour of getting up.

I'm 35 years old, have no history of allergies, and have never experienced this before. Also, this is only present in my left ear and I have no vertigo, tinnitus, or dizziness. Finally, I also was on an antibiotic (Bactrim) during my illness for a total of 10 days. My main symptoms are "fullness" feeling in the left ear, which includes slight but tolerable pain, and moderate autophony. These symptoms have been present for roughly a month.

Here's my list of questions;
1. Do these symptoms fall in line with ETD?

2. Are there any concerns with taking decongestants over a long period of time? I was essentially told to continue on them for weeks. I originally took claritin and thought things were slightly worse, so switched to sudafed and have been taking this roughly 2 or 3 times each day (2 pills, 60 mg total each time).

2. As I have a bit of a wait for to see an ENT, are there other recommendations besides just waiting it out?  Should I consider going back and asking about steroid nasal sprays and/or the ear popper?  I know you mentioned decongestants simply don't work.  What about these other possibilities based on your experience with others with similar symptoms?

3. Is it possible that the cleaning of the outer ear with a bulb syringe could lead to ETD like symptoms if done improperly? In effect, can it lead to damage to the middle ear?  If so, is this usually permanent?  

Thanks you for any advice or any other additional feedback you can give me with my condition and concerns--

[ENTMD]

1.  Probably.  The autophony even suggests something called "patulous Eustachian tube".  This is also commonly relieved with laying down.

2.  Assuming you are otherwise healthy, probably not.  But again, there is no evidence to suggest that this treatment will work at all.  I don't recommend it.

3.  It's a frustrating problem in that there aren't any medicines that treat ETD.  But first this diagnosis needs to be confirmed by an ENT specialist (ie, other things should be ruled out as well).  There is nothing you yourself can do about ETD.

4.  I don't like this method for cleaning ears as I have seen several complications from it.  It shouldn't cause ETD, however.  I have seen damaged drums and infections.  These are not permanent, but can linger for several weeks.