ENT (otorhinolaryngology)

Ear, nose & throat: medicines & conditions

The ears, nose, sinuses and throat sit close together and share linings, so problems often overlap — a cold can lead to sinusitis, a sore throat or an ear infection. This area also includes the balance organs of the inner ear, which is why dizziness and vertigo belong here too. Most ENT problems are short-lived and settle with simple measures, and treatment focuses on easing symptoms, treating infection only when it is needed, and recognising the few warning signs that need urgent care.

Education and reference only. This hub explains which medicines relate to the ear, nose & throat and why — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.

About the ear, nose & throat

Medicines used for ear, nose and throat problems are mostly about symptom relief and, when truly needed, treating infection. They include decongestants and saline for a blocked nose, antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays for allergic symptoms, pain relief for sore throats and earache, antibiotics reserved for the minority of cases that are bacterial, and short courses of vestibular sedatives (antihistamines and anti-sickness medicines) for acute vertigo. Because many ENT infections are viral and self-limiting, a key theme is avoiding unnecessary antibiotics, while watching for the red flags — such as a stiff neck, swelling around the eye, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or sudden hearing loss — that need prompt assessment.

What this covers

  • Sore throat, tonsillitis and sinusitis
  • Ear infections and earache
  • Dizziness, vertigo and balance problems
  • Blocked or runny nose and mouth/throat infections

Conditions in this area

Ear, nose & throat conditions (67)

Each links to a dose-free guide showing which medicine classes are used and how treatment is approached.

Ear, nose and throat Acoustic neuroma A slow-growing, non-cancerous tumour on the nerve between the ear and brain, causing gradual hearing loss, tinnitus and … Ear, nose and throat Auditory processing disorder A condition where the brain has difficulty making sense of sounds, especially speech, despite normal hearing — where str… Ear, nose and throat Bad breath Unpleasant-smelling breath, most often caused by bacteria in the mouth — usually improved by good oral hygiene, with oth… Ear, nose and throat Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) A common cause of brief, intense dizziness triggered by head movements — caused by tiny crystals in the inner ear, and u… Ear, nose and throat Bleeding gums Gums that bleed, usually when brushing, most often an early sign of gum disease from plaque — which improves with good o… Ear, nose and throat Broken nose A common break of the bone or cartilage of the nose, usually from a knock or fall — often healing well on its own, with … Ear, nose and throat Bruxism (teeth grinding) Grinding or clenching the teeth, often during sleep, which can cause jaw pain, headaches and tooth wear — managed with a… Ear, nose and throat Burning mouth syndrome A persistent burning sensation in the mouth with no obvious cause on examination — often long-lasting, but manageable wi… Ear, nose and throat Catarrh A build-up of mucus in the nose, throat or sinuses, often after a cold or with allergies, causing a blocked or runny nos… Ear, nose and throat Chipped, broken or cracked tooth A common dental injury from a knock, biting something hard or decay — where seeing a dentist is important, as treatment … Ear, nose and throat Cholesteatoma An abnormal collection of skin cells in the middle ear that grows over time and can damage the ear — usually needing sur… Ear, nose and throat Chronic sinusitis Long-lasting inflammation of the sinuses causing a blocked or runny nose, facial pressure and reduced smell — managed wi… Ear, nose and throat Dental abscess A collection of pus caused by a bacterial infection in or around a tooth, causing severe pain and swelling — it needs de… Ear, nose and throat Difficulty swallowing Trouble swallowing food, drink or saliva, which always needs assessment — it has many causes, some minor and some seriou… Ear, nose and throat Dry mouth A lack of saliva causing a dry, uncomfortable mouth, often from medicines, dehydration or certain conditions — managed b… Ear, nose and throat Dry socket A painful complication that can occur after a tooth is removed, when the healing blood clot is lost — causing intense pa… Ear, nose and throat Ear infection Infection of the middle ear (behind the eardrum) or the outer ear canal that causes earache and sometimes discharge — of… Ear, nose and throat Earwax build-up A common, harmless build-up of earwax that can block the ear and dull hearing — usually eased with ear drops, and safely… Ear, nose and throat Epiglottitis A rare but life-threatening swelling of the flap above the voice box that can block breathing — a medical emergency need… Ear, nose and throat Eustachian tube dysfunction A problem with the tube that equalises pressure in the middle ear, causing a blocked, full or popping ear — common and u… Ear, nose and throat Geographic tongue A harmless condition where smooth, red patches with pale borders appear on the tongue in a map-like pattern that changes… Ear, nose and throat Gingivitis The early, reversible stage of gum disease, causing red, swollen, bleeding gums — usually improved by good oral hygiene,… Ear, nose and throat Globus sensation A persistent feeling of a lump in the throat when nothing is actually there — common and usually harmless, especially wh… Ear, nose and throat Glue ear A build-up of fluid in the middle ear, common in young children, that can dull hearing — usually clearing on its own, wi… Ear, nose and throat Gum disease Inflammation of the gums caused by plaque, ranging from reversible gingivitis to periodontitis that damages the tooth's … Ear, nose and throat Hyperacusis An increased sensitivity to everyday sounds, which seem uncomfortably or painfully loud — distressing but manageable, of… Ear, nose and throat Knocked-out tooth A dental emergency where a whole tooth is knocked out — where quick action (for an adult tooth) to reimplant or store it… Ear, nose and throat Labyrinthitis Usually a viral inflammation of the inner ear or balance nerve, causing sudden severe vertigo, nausea and unsteadiness t… Ear, nose and throat Laryngeal cancer A cancer of the voice box, often linked to smoking and alcohol, where a persistent hoarse voice is a key early sign — so… Ear, nose and throat Laryngitis Inflammation of the voice box causing a hoarse or lost voice, usually from a viral infection or overuse — most cases set… Ear, nose and throat Laryngomalacia A common cause of noisy breathing in babies, where soft tissues above the voice box are floppy — usually harmless and ou… Ear, nose and throat Laryngopharyngeal reflux Acid or stomach contents irritating the throat and voice box, causing hoarseness, throat clearing and a lump sensation —… Ear, nose and throat Leukoplakia A white or grey patch in the mouth that cannot be rubbed off — usually harmless, but sometimes a warning sign that needs… Ear, nose and throat Mastoiditis A serious infection of the bone behind the ear, usually following a middle ear infection — needing prompt treatment with… Ear, nose and throat Ménière's disease An inner-ear disorder causing recurrent attacks of spinning vertigo lasting minutes to hours, alongside hearing loss, ti… Ear, nose and throat Ménière’s disease A long-term inner-ear disorder causing sudden attacks of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus and a feeling of fu… Ear, nose and throat Motion sickness Nausea and unwellness brought on by travel, caused by a mismatch between what the eyes see and what the inner ear senses… Ear, nose and throat Nasal and sinus cancer A rare cancer affecting the nasal cavity or sinuses, whose symptoms resemble common nose problems — so persistent one-si… Ear, nose and throat Nasal polyps Soft, painless growths in the lining of the nose and sinuses that can block the nose and reduce smell — treated with ste… Ear, nose and throat Nasopharyngeal cancer A rare cancer of the upper throat behind the nose, more common in some populations and linked to the Epstein-Barr virus … Ear, nose and throat Noise sensitivity Increased sensitivity to everyday sounds, which may seem uncomfortably loud or cause distress — where the cause guides m… Ear, nose and throat Noise-induced hearing loss Permanent hearing damage from exposure to loud noise, at work or leisure — which is entirely preventable by protecting y… Ear, nose and throat Nosebleeds Bleeding from the nose, usually from small blood vessels near the front — common and mostly harmless, and usually stoppe… Ear, nose and throat Oral lichen planus A long-term inflammatory condition of the mouth lining causing white patches, redness or soreness — manageable, with mon… Ear, nose and throat Oral thrush A fungal infection in the mouth that causes white patches and soreness, usually treated with an antifungal — and worth c… Ear, nose and throat Otitis externa Inflammation or infection of the ear canal causing pain, itch and discharge — common, often linked to water or scratchin… Ear, nose and throat Otosclerosis An inherited condition causing gradual hearing loss due to abnormal bone growth around one of the tiny ear bones — treat… Ear, nose and throat Perforated eardrum A hole or tear in the eardrum, usually from infection or injury, causing ear symptoms and some hearing loss — which ofte… Ear, nose and throat Pericoronitis Inflammation and infection of the gum over a partly emerged tooth, usually a wisdom tooth — causing pain and swelling, a… Ear, nose and throat Receding gums When the gum tissue pulls back to expose more of the tooth or its root, often causing sensitivity — managed by addressin… Ear, nose and throat Recurrent mouth ulcers Painful sores inside the mouth that keep coming back — common and usually harmless, though frequent or persistent ulcers… Ear, nose and throat Salivary gland stones Small stones that form in the salivary glands or their ducts, causing painful swelling especially at mealtimes — often t… Ear, nose and throat Sensitive teeth Short, sharp pain in the teeth triggered by hot, cold, sweet or acidic things — common, usually from exposed dentine, an… Ear, nose and throat Sinusitis Inflammation of the lining of the sinuses — the air-filled spaces around the nose and cheeks — usually triggered by a co… Ear, nose and throat Snoring A common noise made during sleep when air flows past relaxed tissues in the throat — usually harmless, but sometimes a s… Ear, nose and throat Sore throat A painful, scratchy or inflamed throat that is usually caused by a virus and settles on its own — managed mainly with pa… Ear, nose and throat Sudden hearing loss A rapid loss of hearing, usually in one ear, over hours to days — a medical emergency, as prompt treatment offers the be… Ear, nose and throat Swimmer's ear Inflammation or infection of the ear canal, often after water exposure, causing itch, pain and discharge — usually treat… Ear, nose and throat Temporomandibular disorder (TMJ) Pain and dysfunction of the jaw joint and chewing muscles, causing jaw pain, clicking and difficulty opening the mouth —… Ear, nose and throat Tinnitus Hearing sounds such as ringing or buzzing that do not come from an outside source — very common and usually not serious,… Ear, nose and throat Tongue-tie A condition present at birth where the strip of skin under the tongue is short or tight, restricting tongue movement — s… Ear, nose and throat Tonsil stones Small, hard, whitish lumps that form in the tonsils from trapped debris — usually harmless, sometimes causing bad breath… Ear, nose and throat Tooth decay Damage to the teeth caused by acid from plaque bacteria, leading to cavities, pain and infection if untreated — largely … Ear, nose and throat Vertigo A false sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving — a symptom of several conditions, most often ben… Ear, nose and throat Vestibular neuritis Inflammation of the balance nerve, usually after a viral infection, causing sudden severe vertigo that settles over days… Ear, nose and throat Vocal cord nodules Small, benign growths on the vocal cords from overuse or misuse of the voice, causing a hoarse or husky voice — usually … Ear, nose and throat Wisdom teeth problems The last teeth to come through, often in the late teens or twenties, which can become stuck (impacted) or infected — som…

Medicine classes

Medicines for the ear, nose & throat (1)

Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.

Decongestants ENT / Respiratory Short-term relief of a blocked nose — nasal sprays must not be used for more than a few days.…

By active ingredient

Common ear, nose & throat medicines by name

Individual, dose-free guides to specific active ingredients (and their brands) in this area:

EphedrineA medicine used to raise blood pressure during anaesthesia and, as drops or spray, to reli…OxymetazolineA fast, longer-lasting nasal decongestant spray for a blocked nose, which — like other dec…PhenylephrineA decongestant in cold remedies and nasal sprays, also given by injection to raise blood p…PseudoephedrineAn oral decongestant that unblocks a stuffy nose; raises blood pressure and heart rate, so…XylometazolineA fast nasal decongestant spray that quickly unblocks a stuffy nose, but must not be used …

Clinical formulas & tools

Calculators used in this area

Risk scores and formulas that inform assessment and treatment decisions for the ear, nose & throat:

Body Mass Index (BMI)Weight-for-height screening measure.

Answers

Ear, nose & throat: frequently asked questions

What medicines are used for the ear, nose & throat?

This system includes 1 medicine class — such as decongestants. Each links to a full, dose-free guide covering what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects and interactions.

Which conditions affect the ear, nose & throat?

Common conditions in this area include Acoustic neuroma, Auditory processing disorder, Bad breath, Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Bleeding gums and more. Each condition page shows the medicine classes used to treat it and why.

Do these pages give doses?

No. Every page on this site is dose-free. We explain which medicines are used and why, but doses depend on the individual and the exact product — always confirm with your prescriber, the BNF and the product labelling.

Is this a substitute for medical advice?

No — it is education and reference only. It helps you understand this body system and its treatments, but decisions about your own care should always be made with a qualified clinician.

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