Throat lozenges don’t work, says NHS
Lozenges for sore throats make little difference to symptoms and sufferers are better off taking paracetamol, according to new NHS advice.
GPS are also being urged to stop giving antibiotics for sore throats, as they will not help in most cases and are fuelling antibiotic resistance.
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence suggested there was little point taking medicated lozenges sold by pharmacies across the country, saying patients “should be told that the benefit is likely to be small”.
LOZENGES for sore throats make little difference to symptoms and sufferers are better off taking paracetamol, according to new NHS advice.
GPS are also being urged to stop giving antibiotics for sore throats, as they will not help in most cases and are fuelling antibiotic resistance.
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said too many patients were being prescribed antibiotics when they were suffering from a virus that the drugs cannot treat.
Research shows six in 10 patients viwith a sore throat are being prescribed the drugs by GPS. Instead, they should
‘Paracetamol can relieve pain ... medicated lozenges might not reduce the pain by much’
take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief, the new advice says.
And it suggested there was little point taking medicated lozenges sold by pharmacies across the country, saying patients “should be told that the benefit is likely to be small”.
The evidence review by Nice and Public Health England (PHE) found some evidence that tablets containing a local anaesthetic, non steroid anti-inflammatory drug or an antiseptic made a difference to pain levels, but only small improvements were found. The ingredients are contained in many medicated lozenges.
Dr Tessa Lewis, a GP and chairman of the managing common infections guidance committee, said: “In most cases antibiotics will not make much difference. Instead, we should drink plenty of fluids and rest.
“Paracetamol can help to relieve pain and control temperature. Medicated lozenges might not reduce the pain by much, but some people may choose to use them.”
The guidance says GPS should carefully assess patients to see if their sore throat is likely to be caused by bacteria – meaning antibiotics are appropriate.
Research suggests around one in 10 cases fall into this category, with slightly higher levels among children.
High fever, pus on tonsils, severe inflammation and a lack of cough increase the chance that the pain is caused by a bacterial infection, the new advice says.
Prof Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive at Nice, said: “Antibiotics are not an effective treatment for the majority of sore throats. People who need them should be given them, and our advice will support those decisions. But it is clear that routine prescribing in all cases isn’t appropriate.”
The Proprietary Association of Great Britain, which represents manufacturers of over-the-counter treatments, said: “The Nice guidance ... highlights that some adults may wish to try medicated lozenges containing either a local anaesthetic, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or an antiseptic.
“If used in accordance with the instructions, medicated over-the-counter medicines, such as lozenges and throat sprays, are an appropriately safe and effective way to provide relief from a sore throat.”
Meanwhile, latest figures suggest flu levels are stabilising, amid the worst season for seven years, with just a small increase in cases over the last week. The confirmed season death toll is 155.