In search of a good Ear Beer Recipe

[Bob Cree]

addexdiver, you're mixing middle ear treatment (Mucinex, for decongestant effect), with external ear infection prophylaxis. Mucinex may help prevent middle ear squeeze, but won't do squat for ear canal issues. Not saying you can't do both (though I personally have never been impressed with Mucinex - Afrin, aka oxymetolazone spray - is more effective for me) but to each his/her own.

Yup! That is what I do - I (mix) do them both...

I live in upstate New York and get down 3-5 times a year for usually 10-14 days at a time...and so I hit it pretty hard when I am there (since I can't spread it out like the locals). Usually do only one dive per day, but they tend to be longer and a bit more involved. I was getting ear infections every trip until this - has not happened since. I got to know the symptoms pretty well, and when I get lazy, I can feel one coming on. I do a fair bit of deco and might push the O2 clock a bit. Since Afrin/Sudafed are recognized CNS stimulants (quite effective in the ears though, until rebound kicks in), they are an option I personally feel are not an option. I really like the DM version - in the ear area, it feels alot like Sudafed/Afrin...and I believe from what I read on it, that the DM may act opposite to CNS issues, potentially alot more diver freindly. On occasion, I have stayed at Holiday Inn Express, but maybe someone who is more knowledgable can comment on this?

To Red Hat's question - have not noticed a narcosis difference and for some of the dives I do, that definitely could be an issue (adv mix). I reliably narc at 160ish on air during the working part of a dive...makes bottle drops a bit more fun though.

Mucinex tends to keep you drained (and the DM dries me out - similar to the Afrin) and reduces inner ear blockage up the tubes - ear beer evicts the bugs. Repeated and extended exposures to cool water still tends to build up and cause clearing issues for me though - then a day off is in order.

[mag3]

50/50 91% isopropyl (available at Walgreen's) and white vinegar works for me. Commercially-avaliable "SwimEar" (95% isopropyl +5% anhydrous glycerine) also works, but is $5.00 for a couple ounces. FWIW, Hydrogen peroxide's major degradation byproduct is water, which you're trying to eliminate from your ear canal. The bubbling action probably agitates the water, etc. in the canal enough to promote drying, but it does nothing to restore the naturally acidic pH of the canal (approx. 5.5) which helps prevent bacterial infection.

What do you think of Boric Acid (eg. something like Otic Domeboro) as an alternative to White Vinegar (with which I have an "intolerance" issue in strong quantities)? I found a recipie for a 1:16 ratio of Boric Acid powder to 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.

[divindoc]

What do you think of Boric Acid (eg. something like Otic Domeboro) as an alternative to White Vinegar (with which I have an "intolerance" issue in strong quantities)? I found a recipie for a 1:16 ratio of Boric Acid powder to 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.

Boric acid is a good alternative to white vinegar. Re-acidification of the ear canal (normal pH approx. 5.5) seems essential to prevention of external ear infections, in addition to the drying effect of the isopropyl alcohol.

[wingman]

I keep a bottle of Everclear 190 handy and use white vinegar as diluent for my ears and sugar free red bull as dil for treating my throat (the blue gatorade is also a nice mixer for the throat version). Unlike Sludge I only treat after diving, never before. Note also please that Everclear 190 is illegal in Florida although the lesser 151 proof version is available. You can get the 190 in Alabama and several other states. Enjoy. Bill

[cmalinowski]

I am confused with the mucinex DM. Isn't that a cough suppressant and expectorant? I guess it could help on the mucus side of the house, but isn't the expectorant supposed to loosen up the mucus in the lungs to get you to hack it out?

[bigken462]

Boric acid

Does this stuff smell any better? Is it proven to be safe? I'm willing to try anything to get away from the nasty vinegar smell.

[mag3]

Does this stuff smell any better? Is it proven to be safe? I'm willing to try anything to get away from the nasty vinegar smell.

I use Boric Acid powder. There's no smell at all, really. And whatever odor there may be is masked by the Isopropyl Alcohol. I can't answer your other question. I haven't had any trouble when I use it. But when I do mix it, I check the pH with pH paper to make sure it's not too strong.

There are formulae for Boric Acid Ear beer on the net.

[Bob Cree]

I am confused with the mucinex DM. Isn't that a cough suppressant and expectorant? I guess it could help on the mucus side of the house, but isn't the expectorant supposed to loosen up the mucus in the lungs to get you to hack it out?

That is how I understand it as well.

I was told the expectorant breaks up mucus throughout (and found that yup, it sure seems to) and that helps keep you drained out, therefore your tubes don't have anything to plug them up. For whatever reason, I found that the DM version seems to dry you out as well, so it feels a bit like sudafed does + I have found it doesn't seem to rebound...I'm not a doctor, just a guinea pig...but maybe the drying out is how it suppresses coughing? Does make some sense I guess since if you dry out, there is less to tickle the throat. In practice, it works well enough for me and I don't have to worry about any CNS issues.

Like I said, used to have ear infections every trip - now none since using "Ear Beer" (the Sludge version + a few drops of glycerin) and Mucinex DM.

[divindoc]

I am confused with the mucinex DM. Isn't that a cough suppressant and expectorant? I guess it could help on the mucus side of the house, but isn't the expectorant supposed to loosen up the mucus in the lungs to get you to hack it out?

Yes and Yes. Little hard data is available re: safety and efficacy in diving. As with most medications, drug companies aren't about to fund studies proving safety and efficacy (FDA requirements for prescribing indications) under hyperbaric conditions - the market is simply too small to justify the expense.

I haven't looked at DAN's stance on Dextromethorphan (the DM in Mucinex DM) but I would be cautious using it when diving as it acts on the central nervous system (specifically the brainstem) to suppress coughing.

[divindoc]

Does this stuff smell any better? Is it proven to be safe? I'm willing to try anything to get away from the nasty vinegar smell.

IIRC, the smell is fairly neutral. My kids got so used to getting the 50/50 mixture of isopropyl and vinegar that they call it "salad ears".