How to Get Rid of a Sore Throat Fast

For fast sore throat relief, try an appropriate over-the-counter pain reliever, a medicated throat lozenge or a warm saltwater gargle.

These measures can ease pain, but none guarantees that a sore throat will disappear immediately. Most sore throats are caused by viruses and improve on their own within about a week. For more options to stay comfortable and hydrated, see the best drinks for sore throat.

7 home remedies for a sore throat

1. Take an appropriate pain reliever

Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can reduce sore throat pain; ibuprofen also reduces inflammation. These medicines are well-established options for short-term pain relief, although individual responses vary and they do not remove the cause of a sore throat.

Use the dose on the package for your age and follow its timing and maximum-dose instructions. Check cold and flu products before combining them with a pain reliever: some contain the same active ingredients, making it easy to take too much. Ask a pharmacist if you are unsure which products can be used together.

Acetaminophen may not be suitable for people with liver disease, and ibuprofen may not be suitable for people with kidney disease, a history of stomach ulcers or certain medication interactions. If you are pregnant, check with a clinician before taking a pain reliever. Do not give aspirin to a child or teenager unless a clinician specifically advises it.

2. Try a medicated throat lozenge

Some throat lozenges contain a local anesthetic that temporarily numbs irritated tissue. Others contain different active ingredients, so check the label and follow its directions; relief varies by product and is temporary.

Let the lozenge dissolve slowly rather than chewing it. Do not give lozenges to children younger than 4 years, or to any child who cannot use them safely, because of the risk of choking. If your throat feels numb, follow the product's instructions about eating and drinking.

Evidence for one throat product should not be assumed to apply to another. For example, a small randomized trial of an herbal throat spray compared Andrographis spray with chamomile spray in 60 adults. It had no placebo group, so it does not establish how either spray compares with no active treatment or whether the results apply to lozenges.

3. Gargle with warm salt water

A saltwater gargle is a low-cost way to soothe an irritated throat. It is a common self-care measure, although direct evidence that it speeds recovery from a sore throat is limited.

Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water. Gargle briefly, then spit it out rather than swallowing it. Repeat as needed, and stop if it makes your throat feel more irritated.

Use comfortably warm water, not water hot enough to burn. This remedy is best for adults and older children who can reliably gargle and spit; do not have a young child gargle without supervision.

4. Take a little honey

Honey can coat the throat and may feel soothing when swallowing is uncomfortable. Its effect on sore throat pain itself is uncertain, so think of it as a comfort measure rather than a proven way to shorten the illness.

Try 1 teaspoon (5 mL) on its own or stirred into a comfortably warm drink. Avoid very hot drinks, which can further irritate or burn your throat.

Never give honey to a child younger than 1 year because of the risk of infant botulism. If you have diabetes or monitor your sugar intake, account for the honey you use.

5. Sip fluids at a comfortable temperature

Drinking helps keep the throat moist and prevents dehydration, particularly when swallowing hurts. Warm water or broth may feel soothing, while cool water or ice chips may be more comfortable for others. There is no good evidence that fluids alone make a sore throat resolve faster.

Take small, frequent sips rather than forcing a large drink. Choose the temperature that feels best, and avoid anything that burns or noticeably stings your throat. If pain makes it difficult to drink enough, ask a clinician or pharmacist about suitable pain relief.

6. Add moisture to dry air

Dry air can make an irritated throat feel worse. A clean humidifier may make the air more comfortable, though evidence that it directly treats a sore throat or shortens an infection is limited.

Follow the manufacturer's cleaning and maintenance instructions so the humidifier does not spread contaminants. Avoid breathing hot steam directly from a bowl or kettle: burns are a risk, especially for children. If moisture makes your room feel damp or uncomfortable, turn the humidifier down or off.

7. Rest your voice and get sleep

Speaking less may reduce further irritation when your throat hurts or your voice is hoarse. Sleep also supports recovery when you are ill, although neither measure has a proven immediate pain-relieving effect.

Give your voice a break when you can, and speak gently rather than forcing it. Avoid smoke and other irritants that make symptoms worse. Rest is useful alongside symptom relief, but worsening or persistent symptoms still need attention.

When should you see a doctor for a sore throat?

Get emergency care now if you have trouble breathing, cannot swallow your saliva, are drooling because you cannot swallow, or have rapidly worsening throat swelling. Severe difficulty opening your mouth, a muffled voice or pronounced swelling on one side of the throat also needs urgent medical assessment.

Contact a clinician if your sore throat lasts more than a week, keeps coming back, or comes with a persistent fever, rash or signs of dehydration, such as very little urine. Seek advice sooner if you have a weakened immune system or a significant medical condition, or if a child is not drinking enough. A fever in a baby younger than 3 months needs prompt medical advice.

Strep throat can require a test and prescription treatment; symptoms alone cannot reliably distinguish it from every viral sore throat. Ask a clinician whether testing is appropriate rather than using leftover antibiotics. If you take blood thinners, have liver or kidney disease, are pregnant, or are choosing medicine for a child, check with a clinician or pharmacist before using a pain reliever.