What to take for throat pain before antibiotics work?

Question

i have strep throat and the medication is not working yet, how can i get relief? how to relieve a strep throat before the antibiotics take effect? it is an unbearable pain i have tried advils and tylenol alternately as well as water and salt or water and baking soda. Nothing works and I still feel that my throat is extremely sensitive. My antiobiotic is cephalexin 500mg for 10 days (I'm on my 3rd dose) I feel a little improvement but still have difficulty eating

Naji-tom Samaha · Accepted Answer

Hello, thank you for your question! In order to help you better, what have you tried for the pain? Are you taking any other medications? Allergies? Pregnancy in progress or planned? Thank you for the information. I'm sorry to read about your troubles. Other than those 2 options, we are pretty limited without a prescription I would recommend lozenges such as Fisherman's Friend or Halls as they can provide local relief. When taking acetaminophen and ibuprofen, you do not need to alternate them, you can take them at the same time. Your pharmacist will be able to tell you the maximum dose you can take for each. If the pain persists beyond 72 hours, when the antibiotic should begin to work, you should consult your doctor again. Sincerely Tom Samaha, Pharmacist