The best remedies for laryngitis
Preparations for laryngitis are varied. With a mild form of the disease, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents are dispensed with, with a wet cough – mucolytic and expectorant. We will analyze the main types of remedies for laryngitis

Dryness and sore throat, cough and pain when swallowing are frequent companions of inflammation of the larynx or laryngitis. They cause severe discomfort, interfere with eating, sleeping and talking. To stop unpleasant symptoms and speed up recovery will help effective remedies for laryngitis.

Rating of the top 6 inexpensive and effective remedies for laryngitis according to KP

For the treatment of laryngitis, drugs with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and decongestant effects are most often used. Together with our experts, we have selected the best remedies for laryngitis. Most of them are sold without a prescription and are available in almost every pharmacy.

Despite this, experts recommend taking drugs only as directed by a doctor. The fact is that even an effective remedy for laryngitis may be useless if it is selected “at random” without taking into account the clinical picture of the disease.

Our top 6 contains medicines from domestic and foreign manufacturers. We preferred inexpensive remedies for laryngitis. Practice shows that many budget drugs work no worse than expensive analogues.

1. Decongestants and antiallergic drugs

Antiallergic or antihistamine drugs for laryngitis reduce swelling and inflammation in the throat, restore airway patency1,2. Preparations from this group are used for allergic and infectious laryngitis. Most often use Suprastin, Tavegil, Zorak, Loratadin1,2. Antihistamines for laryngitis are usually prescribed in the form of tablets for oral use and less often – in the form of injections and inhalation solutions.

Advantages:

  • most drugs are suitable not only for adults, but also for children;
  • quick effect – drugs begin to act 30-60 minutes after ingestion.

Disadvantages:

  • reduce the speed of reactions, therefore they are not suitable for people who drive vehicles and are engaged in other activities that require increased attention and concentration;
  • can cause disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and nervous systems.
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2. Local anti-inflammatory drugs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for laryngitis suppress inflammation in the focus of the disease and thereby reduce pain and swelling in the throat. Medicines are available in the form of sprays, rinses and lozenges. The best remedies for laryngitis are benzydamine preparations (Tantum Verde and Oralcept), ketoprofen – an OKI solution, as well as florbiprafen, which is part of Strepsils Intensive tablets3.

Advantages:

  • many drugs are convenient to use outside the home;
  • when using sprays and tablets, dosing accuracy is guaranteed;
  • benzydamine preparations have a complex effect – they reduce inflammation and effectively fight fungi and bacteria.

Disadvantages:

  • a fairly high age threshold: Oralcept spray, spray and Tantum Verde tablets can be taken by children from 3 years old, OKI – for children over 6 years old, Tantum Verde solution and Strepsils Intensive – from 12 years old;
  • OKI and Strepsils Intensive are contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women.
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3. Antiseptic preparations

Antiseptics are intended for topical use – resorption, rinsing and irrigation of the throat, therefore they are available in the form of lozenges, sprays and solutions. Antiseptics have a wide spectrum of action and inhibit the activity of bacteria, fungi and viruses – infectious agents that often cause laryngitis.5. In addition, antiseptics stimulate the regeneration of the mucosa of the larynx, activate local immunity and thereby accelerate recovery.5.

The most effective antiseptic agents for laryngitis include Miramistin, Sangviritrin, Kameton, Strepsils, Yoks, Septolete Neo and Hexaspray3. Combined drugs, such as Antiangin spray, in addition to antiseptic, have an analgesic effect due to the presence of an anesthetic in the composition.

Advantages:

  • suitable for pregnant women and children over 3 years of age, and Sanguiritrin can be used to treat children from birth3;
  • help with viral, bacterial and fungal infections;
  • sold without a prescription.

Disadvantages:

  • do not eliminate pain, with the exception of combined drugs;
  • iodine preparations can be irritating, and products with herbal antiseptics and essential oils can cause allergies3;
  • rinsing solutions are not very suitable for children.
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4. Local antibiotics

Topical preparations are used if the inflammatory process is localized in the focus of the disease. Medicines from this group inhibit the activity of bacteria that cause laryngitis, and also relieve pain, swelling and sore throat. The most popular topical antibiotics are Fluimucil, Gramicidin C, Stopangin, Bioparox5. Most drugs, in addition to the antibiotic, contain anesthetics and anti-inflammatory substances, therefore, they have an analgesic effect, reduce inflammation and swelling.5.

Advantages:

  • ease of use;
  • effectiveness against a wide range of bacterial flora;
  • minimal side effects compared to systemic antibiotics.

Disadvantages:

  • many drugs are contraindicated in young children, pregnant and lactating women.
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5. Systemic antibiotics

Systemic antibiotics in the form of tablets and injections are prescribed in the absence of the effect of local anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial therapy, which was carried out for 4-5 days1,4. Systemic treatment with antibacterial drugs is also indicated for the appearance of purulent sputum and inflammation of the lower respiratory tract.1,4. Most often, antibiotics from several groups are used:

  • penicillins – preparations of amoxicillin (Amoxicillin and Flemoxin Solutab) and amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (Amoxiclav)3;
  • cephalosporins – Suprax, Zinnat, Suprax Solutab3;
  • macrolides – preparations of azithromycin (Sumamed, Hemomycin), josamycin (Vilprafen) and clarithromycin (Klacid, Klabaks)3.

After entering the blood, systemic antibiotics accumulate in infected tissues, destroy the bacterial flora and stop its growth. However, uncontrolled use of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription can worsen the patient’s condition and make further treatment difficult. Therefore, these drugs are dispensed from the pharmacy by prescription.

Advantages:

  • have a quick pronounced effect, so the patient’s condition may improve after taking the first dose;
  • act on a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Disadvantages:

  • sold by prescription;
  • useless for viral and fungal infections;
  • often cause allergic reactions and gastrointestinal disorders.

6. Drugs that improve mucus discharge

Laryngitis is often accompanied by a cough, so patients are prescribed drugs that accelerate the formation of sputum and facilitate its discharge.6. Expectorant and mucolytic agents include ACC, Bromhexine, Ambrobene, Lazolvan, licorice root syrup6. Medicines are available in the form of inhaled solutions, syrups and tablets for oral administration. Inhalation solutions not only dilute sputum, but also moisturize the mucous membrane of the larynx, reduce irritation and inflammation.

Advantages:

  • can be prescribed to children and pregnant women;
  • have practically no side effects;
  • accelerate the separation of sputum, so the inflammation passes faster.

Disadvantages:

  • are not suitable for the treatment of laryngitis at an early stage, as they can provoke an increase in coughing.
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How to choose remedies for laryngitis

Preparations for the treatment of laryngitis should be prescribed by a general practitioner, otolaryngologist or allergist. When choosing medicines, the specialist takes into account the etiology and severity of the disease. For example, with a mild form of laryngitis, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents are dispensed with. With a wet cough, mucolytic and expectorant drugs are prescribed. Allergic laryngitis requires antihistamines, while bacterial laryngitis requires antibiotics.

When choosing a medicine on your own, be sure to read the instructions and pay attention to the following points:

  • composition;
  • act;
  • contraindications.

When buying, pay attention to the form of release of the drug. For example, at home it will not be difficult to gargle, but in a public place it is more convenient to use lozenges for sucking. Small children are unlikely to enjoy drinking tablets, so it is better for them to buy sprays, syrups and inhalation solutions.

Popular questions and answers

Laryngitis is a very common disease, so many are interested in topical ways to treat it. Our experts answer popular questions from readers: otolaryngologist and phoniatrist Zinaida Bogolepova and otolaryngologist Yulia Romanova.

Why does laryngitis occur?

Most often, the cause of inflammation is a viral and bacterial infection, smoking, hypothermia. Non-infectious laryngitis against the background of high speech and singing loads is considered an occupational disease of singers, teachers and announcers. In people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), laryngitis develops because the acidic contents of the stomach enter the esophagus and larynx and irritate the mucous membranes.

Is it possible to treat laryngitis with folk remedies?

Sometimes you can. Some patients are helped by decoctions and infusions of chamomile, oak bark, anise and other medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory and decongestant effects. However, the effectiveness of folk remedies is lower compared to drugs.

Why is laryngitis dangerous?

Without adequate therapy, laryngitis can cause serious complications, including loss of voice. The inflammatory process from the larynx can spread to the lower respiratory tract, provoke laryngotracheitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. Some forms of laryngitis cause laryngeal spasm and choking attacks, and therefore require urgent medical attention.
  1. Acute laryngitis, diagnosis and treatment. Clinical guidelines. National Medical Association of Otolaryngologists. year 2014.
  2. Acute laryngitis in children and adults. Clinical guidelines. National Medical Association of Otolaryngologists. 2019 year.
  3. Sore throat. Pharmaceutical Bulletin dated April 18.04.2016, 843. https://pharmvestnik.ru/content/articles/bolj-v-gorle-XNUMX.html
  4. Clinical guidelines. Acute obstructive laryngitis in children. Union of Pediatricians of Russia, 2016.
  5. Vidal. Formulary of medicines, edition 2021. https://www.vidal.ru/encyclopedia/pulmonologiya/laringit
  6. Differential diagnosis and treatment of various forms of chronic laryngitis. Clinical guidelines. National Medical Association of Otolaryngologists. year 2014.

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