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7 sore throat remedies: what to take (and natural options)

Sore throat

Some remedies for sore throat, such as paracetamol, dipyrone, ibuprofen or acetylsalicylic acid, may be recommended by your doctor to help relieve pain, irritation or inflammation in the throat caused by flu or colds, in addition to helping to reduce pain. fever and alleviate difficulty swallowing or speaking, for example.

If the sore throat was caused by bacterial infections, the doctor may also prescribe the use of antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or azithromycin, for example, to eliminate the bacteria and relieve pain, redness or dots of pus in the throat. See other causes of sore throat.

In addition to the remedies recommended by your doctor, some homemade options can help alleviate symptoms more quickly and complement medical treatment, such as gargling with warm salt water, or pomegranate peel tea, for example.

Sore throat remedies

Pharmacy remedies for sore throat that may be recommended by your doctor are:

1. Paracetamol

Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is an analgesic that can be indicated for sore throats, as it acts by inhibiting the production of substances in the brain responsible for pain, such as prostaglandins or cyclooxygenases, for example. Furthermore, this medicine also has antipyretic action, which helps reduce fever in adults or children.

This medicine can be found in pharmacies or drugstores, in the form of tablets, syrup or drops, under the trade name Tylenol, or as generic paracetamol, and the doses vary according to the person’s age and hair. See how to take paracetamol correctly.

Paracetamol should not be used by people who have liver or kidney disease, who have impaired bone marrow function or by those who are allergic to paracetamol. Furthermore, paracetamol, when used in doses greater than those recommended, can seriously affect the liver, cause drug-induced hepatitis and put life at risk. Know how to identify the symptoms of medical hepatitis.

2. Dipyrone

Dipyrone, also known as dipyrone monohydrate or dipyrone sodium, is another remedy with analgesic action indicated for mild to moderate sore throat, also having an antipyretic effect, helping to reduce fever.

This medicine can be found under the trade names Novalgina, Anador or Maxalgina, for example, in the form of drops, tablets, syrup or suppositories, and should only be used under medical advice. See how to take dipyrone.

Dipirone is contraindicated for pregnant women, babies under 3 months of age or who weigh less than 5 kg and for people who are allergic to dipyrone or other medicines for pain or fever, such as acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, diclofenac or ibuprofen, for example . Furthermore, it should not be used by people who have impaired bone marrow function or diseases related to cell production. sanguine

3. Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic indicated for the relief of sore throat and fever, as it reduces the formation of substances that cause inflammation in the throat and an increase in body temperature, and can be used by adults and children over 6 months.

This medicine can be found in the form of drops, tablets, gelatin capsules or oral suspension, such as generic ibuprofen or with the trade names Alivium, Advil or Ibupril, for example, and must be used under medical advice. Find out how to take ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen should not be used in cases of stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding or liver, kidney or heart failure, and should also not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 months of age. The use of ibuprofen in children under 2 years of age should only be done under the guidance of a pediatrician.

4. Nimesulide

Nimesulide is an anti-inflammatory that can also be indicated for sore throat and fever, and can be used by adults or children over 12 years of age, as advised by the doctor.

This medicine can be found in the form of a tablet, capsule, drop solution, dispersible tablet or granules, and must be taken orally after a meal, in the doses indicated by the doctor. See how to take nimesulide.

Nimesulide should not be used by children under 12 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by people who have ulcers or bleeding in the stomach or intestine, blood clotting problems, severe heart, kidney or liver failure, asthma, rhinitis or nasal polyps.

5. Acetylsalicylic acid

Acetylsalicylic acid, also known as AAS, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, indicated to treat inflammation, relieve mild to moderate sore throat, and reduce fever in adults and children. See how to use acetylsalicylic acid correctly.

This medicine is found in the form of tablets with the names Aspirin or AAS, for example, and should not be used by people who have a tendency to bleeding, stomach or intestinal ulcers, asthma, severe kidney, liver or heart failure, or who are using oral anticoagulants.

Furthermore, acetylsalicylic acid should not be used during pregnancy unless recommended by your doctor. For children under 12 years of age, the use of children’s acetylsalicylic acid should also only be done with a pediatrician’s recommendation.

6. Benzydamine hydrochloride

Benzydamine hydrochloride is a throat lozenge with analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effects, being indicated for inflammation or sore throat.

This tablet can be found in pharmacies or drugstores, under the trade name Ciflogex, in different flavors, and should be used with medical advice.

Benzydamine hydrochloride should not be used by children under 6 years of age, by pregnant or breastfeeding women, by people who are allergic to benzydamine hydrochloride. See all sore throat lozenge options.

7. Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic recommended by a doctor in cases where a sore throat is caused by bacterial infections, and the dose and treatment time vary according to the person’s health status, age and body weight. See how to take amoxicillin.

This remedy should not be used by people who are allergic to amoxicillin, as well as penicillins or cephalosporins. In addition, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with kidney problems or who are being treated with other medications should talk to their doctor before starting treatment with amoxicillin.

In addition to amoxicillin, the doctor may recommend the use of other antibiotics according to the infectious agent responsible for the sore throat, and the use of azithromycin, erythromycin, clindamycin or cephalexin, for example, may be indicated. Learn more about antibiotics for sore throat.

Home remedies

Some home remedies can be used to complement the treatment prescribed by your doctor and help to alleviate symptoms of throat inflammation, such as pain and discomfort.

Some home remedy options for sore throat are:

  • Gargle with warm water with lemon and a pinch of salt, placing the juice of 1 lemon and a pinch of salt in a glass of warm water, gargling for 2 minutes, twice a day;
  • Gargle with pomegranate peel tea, boiling 6 g of pomegranate peels with 150 mL of water;
  • Drink acerola or orange juice daily, as these are fruits rich in vitamin C;
  • Apply a honey spray with propolis 3 to 4 times a day, which can be purchased at the pharmacy;
  • Take 1 spoon of honey with 5 drops of propolis extract per day.

Treatment for sore throat during pregnancy

Medications are generally not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding because they can cause complications during pregnancy and pass to the baby through breast milk, so in these cases, you should consult your doctor before deciding to take medication for a sore throat. . The safest medicine to take during pregnancy to relieve pain is paracetamol, however, it should only be taken if recommended by your doctor.

Furthermore, pregnant women can opt for home remedies, which are safer, such as lemon and ginger tea. To make the tea, simply place 1 4 cm peel of 1 lemon and 1 cm of ginger in 1 cup of boiling water and wait for about 3 minutes. After this time, add 1 teaspoon of honey, let it cool and drink up to 3 cups of tea a day. Alternatively, you can also gargle with water, lemon and salt.