Ear Feeling Kind Of Blocked. Tried Popping, Yawning, Rinsing With Hydrogen Peroxide. Any Help?

Posted on Sun, 9 Jun 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 9 Jun 2013 Answered on

Mon, 1 Jul 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I woke up to my ear feeling kind of blocked, much worse now. Very tired. Tried popping, yawning, rinsing with hydrogen peroxide. Any help?

Answered by Dr. Jorge Brenes-Salazar (1 hour later)

Dear patient,

thanks for your health concerns. The most common cause of feeling blocked ears or "being underwater" after a cold is related to accumulation of fluid in the middle ear and the canal that connects your ear to your throat (called Eustachian tube). It tends to resolve on its own, but medications that can aid in the process are decongestants like pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, and antihystaminics like ceteirizine, fexofenadine and diphenhydramine. you can try them for a few days and assess response, but if the symptoms are pervasive it may be prudent to consult a provider who can assess for any complications such as a middle ear infection

truly yours

Dr Brenes Salazar MD
Mayo Clinic MN

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar