Ear Infection in Indonesia: What to Buy at the Apotek When There Are No Ear Drops

Brand names that work at the counter. Last updated July 4, 2026.

For swimmer's ear in Indonesia, ask the apotek for ofloxacin ear drops: Tarivid, Forotic, or Akilen. If they have none, ofloxacin eye drops (Cendo Floxa, Tarivid) contain the identical 0.3% antibiotic and are safe to use in the ear. The reverse is never true: ear drops must not go in eyes.

This is a traveler's reference compiled from pharmacist-written sources and one firsthand case, not medical advice. See a doctor if you can, especially for severe pain, fever, hearing loss, or a possibly ruptured eardrum.

This page exists because of a surf trip in 2025: an outer ear infection, a small-town apotek with no antibiotic ear drops of any kind, and a long search to learn that the ofloxacin eye drops on the shelf were the same medicine. A large language model suggested the substitution; the pharmacist sources below confirm it. It worked. The details are written down here so the next person can figure this out in five minutes instead of two days.

At the counter, in order

Ask for ofloxacin ear drops

Say "obat tetes telinga" (ear drops) and ask by brand:

Tarivid tetes telinga (ofloxacin 0.3%)
Forotic (ofloxacin)
Akilen (ofloxacin)

Ofloxacin is the first-choice antibiotic for outer ear infections and is safe even if the eardrum is perforated, which is not true of the alternatives below.

Other ear drops Indonesian pharmacies carry

Otopain (polymyxin B, neomycin, fludrocortisone, lidocaine) about Rp100,000. Treats the infection and numbs the pain. Not for perforated eardrums.
Erlamycetin tetes telinga (chloramphenicol 1%) about Rp15,000 to 20,000. Cheap and everywhere. Not for perforated eardrums.

No ear drops at all? Ask for ofloxacin eye drops

Cendo Floxa (ofloxacin 0.3% eye drops). Cendo is Indonesia's biggest eye drop maker, so small apoteks that stock nothing for ears usually have this.
Tarivid eye drops (ofloxacin 0.3%) about Rp84,000

Same molecule, same 0.3% concentration as the ear version. Eye drops are sterile and pH-balanced, which is exactly why the substitution only works in this direction.

Why eye drops in the ear are fine

"Believe it or not, the ofloxacin 0.3% eye drops are a great alternative. Be aware though: eye drops are safe to use in the ear but ear drops should never be used in the eye."

Ronilee Shye, PharmD, writing for GoodRx during the US ofloxacin ear drop shortage

"Eye drop formulations can safely be used in the ear. However, it doesn't work the other way around. Eye drops are sterile solutions" formulated at a pH the ear tolerates, while ear drops are often more acidic than eye tissue can handle.

Brian Staiger, PharmD, HelloPharmacist

US pharmacies made the same substitution at scale when ofloxacin otic solution went into shortage, per the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists shortage bulletin. It is a standard pharmacist move, not a travel hack.

When drops are not enough

Possible ruptured eardrum (sharp pain then discharge, hearing drop): skip the neomycin and chloramphenicol products above; ofloxacin is the one considered safe, but get a doctor to look first.
Fever, spreading pain, or no improvement after 2 to 3 days: find a clinic. In Bali, BIMC Hospital in Kuta and Nusa Dua is used to surfer ears. Elsewhere, any "klinik" can look in the ear.
Fungal infections are common in tropical water and do not respond to antibiotics. If drops make it worse or it itches more than it hurts, that is another reason to get it looked at.
Technically these are all prescription-class medicines in Indonesia ("obat keras"). In practice many apoteks dispense them over the counter; a telehealth consult on Halodoc or Alodokter can also issue a prescription in minutes.

Common questions

Can you use antibiotic eye drops in your ear?: Yes. Eye drops are sterile and formulated at a pH the ear tolerates, so pharmacists consider eye-to-ear substitution safe. Ear drops in the eye are never safe.
What antibiotic ear drops are available in Indonesia?: Ofloxacin under the brands Tarivid, Forotic, and Akilen; Otopain (polymyxin B and neomycin with lidocaine); and Erlamycetin (chloramphenicol). Availability at any single apotek varies a lot.
What is swimmer's ear called in Indonesian?: Medically it is otitis eksterna. At the counter, "infeksi telinga" (ear infection) and "obat tetes telinga" (ear drops) get the point across.
Do you need a prescription for ear drops in Indonesia?: Antibiotic drops are prescription-class (obat keras), but many pharmacies sell them over the counter, and Halodoc or Alodokter telehealth consults can issue prescriptions quickly.

Sources

GoodRx, "Ofloxacin Ear Drops Discontinued: What Are Your Options?" by Ronilee Shye, PharmD.
HelloPharmacist, "Are Antibiotic Eye Drops Safe To Use In The Ear?" by Brian Staiger, PharmD.
ASHP drug shortage bulletin, ofloxacin otic solution.
K24Klik (Indonesian pharmacy chain), Tarivid eye drops, ofloxacin 0.3%.
Apotek Mandjur, Cendo Floxa eye drops, ofloxacin 0.3%.
Alodokter, ear drops available in Indonesian pharmacies (Erlamycetin, Otopain, Forotic, Akilen brands and prices).

Hi, I'm Sam. I love to ski and surf, and I'm currently building a startup. Learn more about me here.