How to Get Rid of a Sore Throat

In most cases, the body's own immune system can get rid of a sore throat within two to five days. In these cases, the cause of the sore throat is typically due to a virus. Viral infections will not respond to medications (i.e., antibiotics); it just takes time for the sore throat to go away.

In the meantime, there are several home remedies you can use to help relieve pain and discomfort. Some of these include:

Pain medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol^®) or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Motrin^®, Advil^®) or naproxen (Aleve^®)
Oral rinses (salt-water gargle)
Throat lozenges
Throat sprays
Decongestants
Natural therapies.

If the cause of your sore throat is diagnosed as a bacterial infection, your healthcare provider will typically prescribe antibiotics to treat your symptoms. Antibiotics have been shown to decrease the length and severity of symptoms, and decrease the chance for complications.

(Click Sore Throat Remedies for a more in-depth look at how to get rid of a sore throat. This article provides a complete overview of other remedies you can try at home to help reduce pain and fever, such as using a vaporizer.)