I have a sore throat and swollen tonsils. Apart from taking Tylenol and Advil, can I do anything to reduce the pain in my throat?

Good evening ma'am,

It depends on whether the sore throat is accompanied by coughing or not.

If you are coughing, you should definitely try to decrease the amount of mucus that is flowing down your throat from your nose. To do this, you need to use a product like Sinus Rinse™ twice a day for 5 to 7 days.

If you are not coughing, you need to see whether or not you have bacterial pharyngitis. To do this, calculate the score find on page 2 of the following document: https://www.inesss.qc.ca/fileadmin/doc/CDM/UsageOptimal/Guides-serieI/Guide-PharyngiteAmygdalite.pdf. Is your score below 3? If so, you should continue using Advil™ and Tylenol™, but also honey lozenges (and some 😊 ice cream). If it's 3 or more, see a doctor.

Tell me about it,

Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist