Some sore throat medications, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, benzydamine hydrochloride or amoxicillin, help reduce the production of inflammatory substances, such as prostaglandins, or fight bacteria that cause inflammation and sore throat.
These medications, especially anti-inflammatory ones, should preferably be taken after meals to avoid stomach pain, as they can irritate the stomach, especially in people who suffer from gastritis or who have greater gastric sensitivity.
Read too: Sore throat: symptoms, causes and treatment
A sore throat can be caused by flu or colds, for example, or bacterial infections, and may be accompanied by fever, redness or dots of pus in the throat. It is important to consult your general practitioner or otorhinolaryngologist, who can recommend the most appropriate medicine or even the use of antibiotics. Check out all the causes of sore throat.
Pharmacy remedies
Remedies that may be indicated for sore throat are:
1. Paracetamol
Paracetamol is an analgesic that can be used for sore throats, as it works by inhibiting the production of substances in the brain responsible for pain, such as prostaglandins or cyclooxygenases, and can also help relieve fever. See how to take paracetamol correctly.
Paracetamol can be purchased without a prescription, however, it is recommended to consult your doctor before purchasing, as paracetamol should not be used by people who have liver or kidney disease, who have impaired bone marrow function or by those who have allergy 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 is an analgesic and antipyretic indicated for sore throats as it works by reducing the production of substances that cause pain or fever, and can be found in the form of drops, tablets, syrup or suppositories. Find out how to take dipyrone.
Dipyrone can be used by children over 3 months of age, adolescents and adults, and is contraindicated for pregnant women, babies under 3 months of age or weighing less than 5 kg or by people who are allergic to dipyrone.
3. Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indicated for the relief of sore throat that works by reducing the production of substances that cause inflammation and also acts as an analgesic, reducing pain in the throat.
This anti-inflammatory can be found in tablet form and should not be used by people who are allergic to ibuprofen and in cases of gastritis, gastric ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, asthma or rhinitis.
Furthermore, ibuprofen should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women and by babies under 6 months of age. See how to use ibuprofen.
4. Acetylsalicylic acid
Acetylsalicylic acid, also known as AAS, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory that can be used for sore throats as it reduces the production of substances that cause inflammation, in addition to having an analgesic action, reducing pain. Learn how to take AAS correctly.
This medicine should not be used by pregnant women, children under 12 years of age or by people with stomach or intestinal problems, such as gastritis, colitis, ulcers or bleeding.
Furthermore, people who regularly use ASA as an anticoagulant or warfarin should not take acetylsalicylic acid to treat a sore throat.
5. Naproxen
Naproxen is also an anti-inflammatory that has analgesic action, which works to reduce sore throat, and can be found in tablet form. Find out how to take naproxen.
Naproxen is contraindicated for people who have already had heart surgery, pregnant or breastfeeding women, children under 2 years of age and in cases of stomach diseases such as gastritis or gastric ulcers.
6. Nimesulide
Nimesulide is also a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory indicated to relieve sore throat, inflammation or fever, and can be found in the form of a tablet, capsule, drop solution, dispersible tablet or granules. Check out other indications and 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.
7. Benzydamine hydrochloride
Benzydamine hydrochloride is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anesthetic in the form of a lozenge, indicated for sore or sore throats, helping to reduce the pain and discomfort of a sore throat.
This tablet should not be used by children under 6 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or people who are allergic to benzydamine hydrochloride. See all sore throat lozenge options.
8. Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin or amoxicillin + clavulanate are antibiotics recommended for sore throats caused by bacterial infections, as they act to eliminate bacteria, relieving symptoms. See how to take amoxicillin and amoxicillin + clavulanate.
This antibiotic should only be used with medical advice, which may also indicate other types of antibiotic, such as axetilcefuroxime, azithromycin, clarithromycin or cephalexin, for example, which varies according to the type of bacteria that caused the sore throat and history of person’s allergies.
Read too: Antibiotics for Sore Throat: Top 5 Options
Remedy for sore throat in children
A medicine for children’s sore throat, which is usually prescribed by a pediatrician to treat inflammation or sore throat, is ibuprofen. The dose of this medicine must be adapted according to the child’s weight and age.
Not all anti-inflammatory throat medications are for pediatric use, so if your child has a sore throat or sore throat, you should consult your pediatrician so he can recommend the most appropriate anti-inflammatory medication and dose. .
Remedies for sore throat in pregnant women
Anti-inflammatories are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding because they can cause complications in the fetus or pass to the baby through breast milk. Therefore, in these cases, you should consult your doctor before taking any anti-inflammatory for your throat.
Alternatively, a great natural option for relieving inflammation and sore throats in pregnant and breastfeeding women is lemon and ginger tea, for example. See other natural ways to soothe a sore throat during pregnancy.
To make the tea, simply place 1 4 cm peel of 1 Galician or regular lemon and 1 cm of ginger, in 2 cups of boiling water, and wait for about 3 minutes. After this time, strain, let it cool and drink the 2 cups in divided doses throughout the day. You can also add 1 teaspoon of honey, which helps moisturize the throat and relieve pain and inflammation.
Natural remedy options
An excellent natural anti-inflammatory for a sore throat is marshmallow tea with ginger and honey, as marshmallow has an anti-inflammatory, calming and decongestant action, ginger is also anti-inflammatory and analgesic and honey helps lubricate the throat, reducing discomfort.
To make this tea, simply place 1 tablespoon of marshmallow root and 1 cm of ginger in 1 cup of boiling water and wait for about 2 minutes. After this time, strain and add 1 teaspoon of honey, letting it cool and drinking 2 cups of tea a day until the sore throat subsides.
