What Helps a Sore Throat: Medications, Lozenges and Home Remedies

You wake up in the morning and feel it: your throat is like sandpaper. Swallowing is torture. Talking - even worse. You look in the mirror, and there it is - a red, swollen throat, maybe white patches on the tonsils. Classic.

A sore throat is one of the most common reasons people reach for over-the-counter medications. Pharmacies tempt with dozens of lozenges, sprays, and gargles. But the truth is: most of them work poorly or not at all. And some are just colourful sweets with a minty flavour.

Today we'll clear up all the doubts. You'll learn what truly soothes a sore throat, which ingredients have proven effectiveness, which home remedies work - and when you need to see a doctor for antibiotics.

Why Does Your Throat Hurt in the First Place?

Before reaching for medication, it's worth knowing what's happening in your throat.

Most Common Causes

1. Viral infection (90% of cases)

This is the most common cause. Cold, flu, adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus. A sore throat is usually the first symptom, followed by runny nose, cough, and general malaise.

How to recognise? Moderate pain, gradually increasing, without white patches (or minimal). Often accompanied by runny nose, cough.

2. Bacterial tonsillitis (streptococcus - about 10% of cases)

This is more serious. Group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) attacks the tonsils. Pain is SEVERE, sudden, swallowing practically impossible.

How to recognise?

• Sudden, very severe sore throat
• Fever above 38 degrees C
• White or yellowish patches on the tonsils
• Enlarged, painful lymph nodes under the jaw
• NO cough or runny nose (this is important - if you have a runny nose, it's likely a virus)

3. Other causes

• Dry air - heating in winter, air conditioning in summer
• Allergies - pollen, dust, pet dander
• Acid reflux - acid irritates the throat (especially in the morning)
• Shouting, voice overuse - mechanical damage
• Smoking - chronic irritation

Sore Throat Medications - What Actually Works?

Lozenges - Which Ones Make Sense?

This is where there's the most confusion. Shelves full of colourful packages, all promising relief. But the ingredients vary greatly in effectiveness.

1. Lozenges with Local Anaesthetics - Most Effective

Ingredients:

• Benzocaine (various throat lozenge brands)
• Lidocaine (Tantum Verde lozenges)
• Amylmetacresol / tetracaine (Septolete Plus)

How do they work? They numb the throat's mucous membrane. Like at the dentist - they "freeze" pain receptors. Relief comes quickly (5-10 minutes) and lasts 1-3 hours.

For whom?

• Severe, sharp sore throat
• Pain making eating and drinking difficult
• Quick relief before an important meeting or presentation

Warnings:

• DO NOT exceed the dose (max 6-8 tablets daily) - too much anaesthetic can irritate the throat
• You may have a strange "numb" feeling in the throat, tongue - this is normal
• Be careful with hot drinks (you won't feel that you're burning your throat)

Price: €4-8 per pack (20-24 lozenges). Brand-name products are pricier, generics are cheaper - and work the same.

2. Lozenges with NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)

Ingredient:

• Flurbiprofen (Strepsils Intensive, Strefen)

How does it work? Doesn't just numb - it reduces inflammation and swelling. Works deeper than local anaesthesia. Relief lasts longer (up to 4-6 hours).

For whom?

• Severe sore throat with swelling
• Tonsillitis, pharyngitis
• Long-lasting relief (no need to suck a lozenge every 2 hours)

Warnings:

• NOT for people with stomach ulcers, kidney problems
• DO NOT combine with other NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin) - overdose risk
• Maximum 5 tablets daily

Price: €6-10 for 16 tablets. More expensive but often worth the money.

3. Lozenges with Antiseptics - Poor Effectiveness

Ingredients:

• Benzalkonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride (Septolete, regular Strepsils)
• Amylmetacresol, 2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol (classic Strepsils)

How do they work? They're supposed to kill bacteria in the throat. Problem? Sore throats are most commonly caused by a VIRUS (antiseptics don't work on viruses). And even if it's bacteria - the antiseptic concentration in a lozenge is too low to realistically destroy them.

For whom?

• Mild throat discomfort
• As "something rather than nothing"

The truth? These lozenges work mainly through the soothing mechanism (saliva + sucking), not through the active ingredient. The difference between them and mint sweets is minimal.

Price: €3-7. If you want real relief - better spend that money on lozenges with an anaesthetic or NSAID.

4. "Natural" Lozenges - Herbs, Honey, Vitamin C

Ingredients: Sage, thyme, mint, honey, propolis, vitamin C, zinc.

Effectiveness? They soothe through mechanical action (sucking produces saliva which moistens the throat). The herbs themselves have no proven pain-relieving effectiveness.

Honey and propolis? Coat the throat, may slightly ease irritation. But this isn't a medicinal effect.

When are they worthwhile?

• Very mild sore throat
• You prefer "natural" solutions
• Children (if they can't take stronger medications)

Price: €4-10. Often more expensive than synthetic medications yet less effective.

Sprays and Gargles - What Works?

Sprays with Anaesthetic or NSAID

Examples:

• Tantum Verde spray (benzydamine - NSAID)
• Difflam spray (benzydamine)

How does it work? Similar to NSAID lozenges - reduces pain and inflammation. Covers the entire throat evenly.

For whom?

• Severe sore throat
• People who don't like sucking tablets
• Quick relief (works within minutes)

How to use? 4-6 puffs onto the throat, 3-4 times daily. DO NOT eat or drink for 15-30 minutes after application.

Price: €5-10 per bottle (lasts several days).

Gargles - Saline, Baking Soda, Benzydamine

Saline (0.9% NaCl) or baking soda:

Rinses the throat, reduces swelling through osmosis. Doesn't numb but soothes.

How to make? A teaspoon of salt (or baking soda) in a glass of warm water. Gargle 3-4 times daily.

Benzydamine solution: Benzydamine in liquid form - works like the spray but you gargle the entire throat. Effective but pricier (€6-10).

Home Remedies - What Actually Works?

WORKS: Warm drinks with honey and lemon

Honey coats the throat, reduces irritation. Warmth soothes pain. Lemon adds vitamin C (though it won't cure an infection). Drink slowly, in small sips.

WORKS: Gargling with salt water

Reduces swelling, rinses out bacteria and viruses. Simple, cheap, effective.

WORKS: Humidifying the air

Dry air irritates the throat. A humidifier (or a bowl of water on the radiator) helps maintain 40-60% humidity.

WORKS: Resting your voice

Talk less, don't shout, don't whisper (whispering strains the vocal cords more than normal speech). Give your throat time to recover.

WORKS: Drinking plenty of fluids

Moistens the mucous membrane, helps the body fight infection. Water, tea, broth - all fine.

MYTH: Hot milk with butter

Dairy increases mucus production - may worsen the feeling of a "blocked" throat. If it helps you - fine, but it's not a universal remedy.

MYTH: Alcohol "disinfects" the throat

Alcohol irritates the mucous membrane and can worsen the condition. No, spirits with pepper is not a treatment.

MYTH: Ice cream helps with pain

Ice cream numbs through cold - may bring momentary relief, but doesn't treat. And for some people, cold can worsen the pain.

What Helps Swollen, Painful Tonsils?

Sore, swollen tonsils are usually the same story as an ordinary sore throat: a viral infection that clears up by itself in a few days. White patches on the tonsils prove nothing on their own - glandular fever and a run-of-the-mill throat infection produce them too. Bacteria are decided by the clinical picture and a swab, not by what you see in the mirror.

What genuinely eases tonsil pain: an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, or paracetamol, taken orally - they act on the whole inflammatory response rather than only the surface of the throat, so they usually give more relief than lozenges alone. Add lozenges or a spray with a local anaesthetic for a few dozen minutes of comfort, especially before meals, gargling with warm salt water several times a day, and cool or warm drinks, whichever suits you. Purely antiseptic lozenges have the weakest evidence behind them.

Red flags where you should not experiment at home: you cannot swallow your own saliva or drink, the pain is clearly one-sided and growing, you struggle to open your mouth, your neck is swollen, you are short of breath or your voice sounds muffled and hot-potato-like. That can be a peritonsillar abscess and needs urgent medical assessment. Also see a doctor if the tonsils hurt for more than a week without improvement, or if tonsillitis keeps coming back several times a year.

When Does a Sore Throat Need Antibiotics?

Short answer: rarely. The vast majority of sore throats in adults are viral, and antibiotics do nothing to viruses - they will, however, wipe out part of your gut bacteria, can cause diarrhoea or an allergic reaction, and they drive resistance. Antibiotics make sense once a doctor confirms strep throat: severe pain without cough or runny nose, fever, patches on the tonsils and tender lymph nodes, ideally with a positive swab or rapid test. The examination decides, not how bad it feels and not how the throat looks.

See a doctor if:

• Very severe pain - you can't swallow or drink
• White or yellow patches on the tonsils
• Fever above 38 degrees C lasting 2-3 days
• Enlarged, painful lymph nodes under the jaw, on the neck
• NO cough or runny nose (streptococcus rarely causes cold symptoms)
• Rash (could be scarlet fever - a strep tonsillitis complication)
• Sore throat lasting more than a week without improvement

The Centor Score - Helps Assess Bacterial Tonsillitis Risk

Doctors use this test to decide whether you need antibiotics:

• Fever above 38 degrees C: +1 point
• No cough: +1 point
• Enlarged, painful lymph nodes: +1 point
• White patches on tonsils: +1 point
• Age 3-14: +1 point / Age 15-44: 0 points / Age 45+: -1 point

Score 0-1: Bacterial probability: <5%. No antibiotic needed.

Score 2-3: Probability: 10-30%. Doctor may order a throat swab (strep test).

Score 4-5: Probability: 50-70%. Likely bacterial tonsillitis - antibiotic needed.

Which Antibiotics Does the Doctor Prescribe?

• Penicillin V or amoxicillin - first choice (10 days)
• Azithromycin - if allergic to penicillin (3-5 days)
• Cephalosporins (cefuroxime) - alternative

IMPORTANT: If you've been prescribed antibiotics - take the FULL course, even if you feel better after 2 days. Stopping early risks recurrence and bacterial resistance.

How to Speed Up Recovery

1. Rest

Your body needs energy to fight infection. Don't push yourself - it's better to stay home for 2 days than to be sick for 2 weeks.

2. Drink plenty of fluids

2-3 litres per day - water, tea, broth. Moistening the mucous membrane speeds healing.

3. Eat light but nutritious food

Broth, cream soup, fruit, vegetables. Avoid spicy, sour, hard foods (they irritate the throat).

4. Take ibuprofen or paracetamol

They reduce pain and fever. Ibuprofen also has anti-inflammatory action (better choice for a sore throat).

5. Humidify the air

40-60% humidity is optimal for mucous membranes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I go to work with a sore throat?

If it's mild pain without fever - probably yes (but you may infect others). If you have fever, severe pain, feel weak - stay home.

Does ice cream help with a sore throat?

It may bring momentary relief through cold numbing, but doesn't treat. In some people, cold makes the pain worse.

Does vitamin C cure a sore throat?

No. It may slightly shorten the duration of a cold (by about 1 day), but won't cure an infection. If anything - eat fruit, not supplements.

Can I take leftover antibiotics from last time?

NO. Antibiotics are prescribed by a doctor after diagnosis. Self-prescribing antibiotics leads to bacterial resistance and serious side effects.

How long does a sore throat last?

Viral: 3-7 days. Bacterial (with antibiotics): improvement after 24-48 hours, full recovery after 7-10 days.

Summary - Quick Cheat Sheet

Most effective over-the-counter medications:

• Lozenges with anaesthetic (benzocaine, lidocaine) - €4-8
• Lozenges with NSAID (flurbiprofen - Strepsils Intensive) - €6-10
• Tantum Verde spray (benzydamine) - €5-10
• Oral ibuprofen or paracetamol - €3-5

Poor effectiveness:

• Lozenges with antiseptics (classic Strepsils, Septolete)
• "Natural" lozenges (herbs, honey) - work like sweets

Home remedies that work:

• Gargling with salt water
• Warm drinks with honey and lemon
• Humidifying the air
• Resting your voice
• Drinking plenty of fluids

When to see a doctor:

• Very severe pain, white patches, fever above 38 degrees C
• No cough or runny nose (suspected bacterial tonsillitis)
• Pain lasting more than a week
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing

Save wisely:

• Compare prices on CheaperForDrug - differences reach 30-50%
• Choose generics - generic vs brand-name lozenges contain the same active ingredient
• Don't overpay for "natural" lozenges - they work like sweets

Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have a severe sore throat, fever, difficulty swallowing, or the pain lasts more than a week - consult a doctor. Do not self-prescribe antibiotics.

A sore throat will pass. With the right medications, home remedies, and a bit of patience you'll feel better sooner. And with CheaperForDrug you'll find effective lozenges at a better price - and save for the next cold.

Good health starts with smart choices. And reading ingredients, not just packaging.