My throat hurts, I cough a lot and my right ear hurts, it's a bit blocked. What should I do?

Hello Madam, I'm sorry to read about your troubles!

At first glance, I suggest acetaminophen (Tylenol and other brands) to relieve throat and ear pain among others. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brands, if you don't have any contraindications, your pharmacist will be able to confirm this) can also help with pain.

I also suggest lozenges like Halls or Fisherman's Friend if needed, for local relief of throat irritation

If your ears are not completely blocked, I strongly suggest nasal hygiene with a saline solution (Hydrasense, Sinus Rinse and others), which can be done as often as needed during the day, and at least 30 minutes before bedtime. By 'cleaning' the nasal secretions, we can reduce the feeling of pressure in the sinuses and prevent them from flowing backwards into the throat which very often causes coughing. It's a bit unpleasant but it works wonders!

I also encourage you to drink lots of fluids, cold or hot, as you prefer.

If the symptoms persist for more than 7 days without improvement, you should consult a doctor.

I hope I've been helpful and I'm available if you have any other questions!

Tom Samaha, pharmacist