Yes, 3 mg/mL ofloxacin otic drops is exactly the same as 0.3% ofloxacin otic drops
These are two different ways of expressing the identical concentration—3 mg/mL equals 0.3%, so they are the same formulation. 1
Understanding the Concentration Equivalence
The mathematical relationship is straightforward:
- 0.3% means 0.3 grams per 100 mL, which equals 300 mg per 100 mL 1
- This simplifies to 3 mg per 1 mL (3 mg/mL) 1
- Both expressions describe the FDA-approved ofloxacin otic solution concentration 1
Clinical Context and Approved Uses
The 0.3% (3 mg/mL) ofloxacin otic solution is FDA-approved for three specific ear conditions 1:
- Otitis externa in patients ≥6 months old 1
- Chronic suppurative otitis media with perforated tympanic membranes in patients ≥12 years 1
- Acute otitis media with tympanostomy tubes in children ≥1 year 1
Dosing Based on This Standard Concentration
Using the 0.3% (3 mg/mL) formulation 2:
- Children 6 months to 12 years: 5 drops once daily for otitis externa (7 days) or twice daily for middle ear infections (10 days) 2
- Adolescents and adults ≥13 years: 10 drops with the same frequency schedule 2
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not confuse otic (ear) ofloxacin 0.3% with ophthalmic (eye) ofloxacin 0.3%—while both have the same concentration, they are formulated for different anatomical sites 3, 1. The otic formulation is specifically designed for ear infections and achieves very high local concentrations in otorrhea (up to 602 pg/g in middle ear mucosa) with minimal systemic absorption 4.