Sore throat but painkiller barely does anything!

[PrincessDorit0]

Okay so I've had this sore throat for 5 days now, whatever tablets I take it doesn't really get rid of the pain especially at night when I want to sleep!! I've never had one this bad, I lost my voice the first couple of days but now it's starting to return slowly, I have pain in the back of my neck, I have a cough which keeps aggravating it! I have a runny nose and also a temperature, I went to the doctors and all she said was that she couldn't do anything for me as it's a viral infection and antibiotics won't do anything for it!! so I'm really stuck on what to do?! I'm in so much pain and it stops me from eating, sleeping, enjoying myself because I'm always in so much pain to the point where I just cry it's that bad. Please help!!

[MiscellaneousAssortment]

It won't help you right now but tomorrow do go buy a throat spray anaesthetic & antiseptic in one.

They are the only thing that eases my sore throats when it gets that bad. The difficulty is to squirt it at the right spot, but a mirror, good light and a lot of perseverance help. Oh and of course intense pain is a great motivator!

If you can't do sprays they also have numbing tablets you can suck. I don't find those as effective though as they don't hit the sore bit on the spot. I end up gagging on them trying to edge it back far enough to get closer to your throats. Choking risk waiting to happen I think.

Anyway, I hope you feel better soon.

[Amyaa]

You can buy these lozenges called tryozets over the counter. They are an anaesthetic. They did wonders when I had tonsillitis.

[Popskipiekin]

Agree utterly on the throat spray, only thing that gets me through when it's that bad. There used to be something called Merocaine lozenges with anesthetic in. Could you try a warm (hot as you can tolerate) salty gargle? 1/2 a teaspoon salt in hot water, should relieve your throat a bit (I have to kind of hold my nose/not think about tasting as it's rank! But it helps a lot)

[jellyflood79]

The spray that Misc suggests is my go to solution too. I particularly like the covonia one as it tastes ok but recently had this one from Lloyds and it tastes awful but is extremely effective at numbing. http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/ultra-chloraseptic-anaesthetic-throat-spray-menthol-flavour-15ml

I never have any problem getting it to the required area, the long nozzles are great. I also disregard the instructions and spray on loads when it's really bad.

[Mondrian]

+1000 on both Covonia & Ultra. The old fashioned salt water works wonders too.

[Travelledtheworld]

Chloraseptic Throat spray.
Rest.
Have plenty to drink. Honey and lemon in hot water helps too.
Or occasionally have a spoonful of honey and just let it slip down your throat.....

Hope you feel better soon.

[FriendofBill]

Seconding Tyrozets
Small lozenges available over the counter at pharmacy.
Better than spray imo.

[Weebleswobbles]

Could you have tonsillitis? Ask pharmacist tomorrow to look at your throats

[PrincessDorit0]

Well I've tried some aspirin and it took a little bit of pain away but not enough to stop me from squinting every time I swallowed I think I'll have to go to the chemist and see what they suggest! A spray sounds like a good idea, just another night without sleep! Is there anything I can do to make the pain bareable just for tonight so I can sleep?? Because I know being asleep is the best thing for when you're body is fighting an illness off. Thank you for all the advice!!

[sadie9]

Have you tried Ibruprofen?

[georgedawes]

Pholcodeine linctus is the only cough medicine yhat helps.

[queencrunch]

Can you still buy merocaine? My chemist doesn't stock it.

If you can get them they are awesome

[SpookyPotato]

Another vote for that spray here, it's the only thing that helps me! It numbs your throat until it passes. Painkillers and lozenges do nothing for me when I have a sore throat.

[MountainDweller]

Alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen so you always have something in your system. So eg paracetamol at 9, ibuprofen at 12, paracetamol at 2 ibuprofen at 5, paracetamol at 72, ibuprofen at 10, and you have one dose of paracetamol left for if you wake in the night. Use the throats spray as well. I've been given a steroid throat spray by my dr when the sore throat was really bad. Did he do a swab to check it was viral? That's the only way you can know for sure.

[tobee]

I find gargling and swallowing soluable panadol extra works really well.

[PrincessDorit0]

I've been taking ibuprofen and spray, really helps make the pain more bareable... unfortunately my cough is now the problem and keeping me awake. Anyone know what I could do to take the horrible tickly feeling away so I can sleep??

[GreenSpaghetti]

Spoonful of honey? Or mix some in hot water to drink?

[lazydog]

Did the GP take a good look at your throat? I made the mistake of assuming that ds2's last severe sore throat was viral when it coincided with obvious cold symptoms, only to take him to the doctor because it hung around after the other symptoms subsided, and swabs proved he had strep! Took hefty antibiotics to shift the infection.

[thetoothfairywhoforgot]

I find ice helps. Try drinking an icy glass of water.

[Rainbowqueeen]

Try gargling salt in warm water.
Drink lots of warm lemon honey

[PrincessDorit0]

Yeah she took a look at my throat, just said it's a viral infection and if I don't see any improvements within a week or so to go back. I'll try the honey! Thank you everyone