I’m a pharmacist – here’s what to take for a sore throat now common medicines are banned

TREATING a cough, cold or the flu will look a little different in future after all drugs containing pholcodine were removed from shelves.

Commonly used medicines, including Day Nurse and Night Nurse, are being taken off the British market due to a “very rare” risk of anaphylaxis.

The reaction — also known as anaphylactic shock — is severe and potentially life-threatening.

All products containing the cough suppressant pholcodine are being recalled, including Day and Night Nurse, Covonia dry cough syrup, some Boots and Superdrug cough syrups and Pholcodine Linctus bottles.

A spokesperson for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) described the move as a “precaution”.

But what drugs should you take to treat a sore throat now that many medicine cabinet staples have been wiped?

Thorrun Govind, a pharmacist and chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England, suggests the best thing someone can buy when they have a cold or the flu is standard paracetamol or ibuprofen.

“These will just help to manage the symptoms as for most people coughs and colds will go away on their own after a week or two.

“But if your cough goes on for three weeks you should go and see your GP,” she adds.

Mike Hewitson, a pharmacist based in Somerset, said people with colds or the flu should drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

This lets your body circulate blood more freely, allowing flu-and-cold-fighting white blood cells better fight off viruses.

Some studies also suggest the vitamin C could help clear up a cold faster, but the evidence is still quite inconclusive.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, a pharmacist and chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, added: “We also advise people who have a cough to drink tea with lemon and honey – honey particularly has soothing effect on cough.”

But if you’ve got a dry “unproductive cough” and are looking for products to treat it, she said there were many cough medicine alternatives to choose from, ‘”particularly products containing the substance dextromethorphan”.

She gave the examples of Benylin and Robitussin.

If your child has a cough, she recommended glycerin syrup.

Meanwhile the NHS recommended a few ways to shake off a cold more quickly.

It said you should:

1. Have plenty of rest and sleep
2. If you have a sore throat, gargle salt water – the NHS noted that this last option is not suitable for children
3. Stay home and avoid contact with other people – especially if you have a high temperature

It also advised you speak to a pharmacist about the best cough and cold medicine to take.

What if I still have some of these medicines at home?

The best thing to do with these medicines is to return them to your local pharmacy for “safe disposal,” says Thorrun.

“And if you have an operation scheduled and think you had one of the drugs in the last 12 months, you should tell your anaesthetist,” she added.

Anaphylactic shock symptoms include light-headedness, breathing difficulties, wheezing, a fast heartbeat and clammy skin.

Prevention better than cure

The medicine experts stressed that prevention is better than cure and there are many effective ways at reducing your chances of getting ill in the first place.

Sadik Al-Hassan, a pharmacist based in Bath, said some of his patients use echinacea to treat their cold.

Echinacea is a plant which was once thought by experts to stimulate the immune system to more effectively fight infection.

But recent studies have found the dietary supplement does little to reduce the time you are feeling ill, Sadik told The Sun.

“Although it has been found to slightly reduce the chances of catching a cold,” he previously told The Sun.

Meanwhile, Mike suggested getting a flu jab ahead of the cold and flu season – between October through to January.

“Many pharmacies will also be able to provide you with a private flu vaccination service if you don’t qualify for the free NHS jab,” he said.