Stop sore throats being a pain in the neck. (Difflam Spray)

Member Name: markos9

Product:	Difflam Spray
Date:	22/05/09 (261 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast acting and really effective.

Disadvantages: Bottle must be kept upright at all times.

I hate getting a sore throat; the dry feeling, the inability to swallow properly, and the fact that talking makes it worse are all real irritations for me. Worst of course, when a severe sore throat strikes, is the pain. Feeling like I'm swallowing broken glass when I am, in fact, only eating a piece of toast is horrible!

Until recently, my favourite remedy for a sore throat was Dequacaine lozenges. A recent nasty throat infection prompted a member of my family to get me something new; "Difflam Spray" (I'm not sure whether they took pity on me or were trying anything they could to stop my moaning)!

Difflam spray comes in a 30ml bottle with a straw-like nozzle on the side that is activated by pressing the top of the bottle. I'd never tried anything like this before, but the broken glass feeling made me desperate enough to try anything (OK, I admit it; I'm a wimp where pain's concerned).

The active ingredient in Difflam is 'Benzydamine'. This is one of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDs). This works to reduce the effect of a sore throat in two ways. Its analgesic and anaesthetic properties dulls the pain, whilst the drug also reduces the inflammation that is a common symptom of a throat infection. Benzymadine is reportedly a very safe drug, which is well tolerated by most people and has very few side effects.

I found administering the Difflam spray to be slightly awkward. To apply, you insert the straw into your mouth, point to the affected area, and press the plunger which sprays the drug onto the throat.

Initially, I did not like the feeling of spraying the drug into my mouth. The liquid runs down the throat and collects at the back and on the tongue. It has quite a strong chemical taste (I describe it as a cross between mint and Dettol)! The normal dose is four to eight 'puffs' for an adult, so the process must be repeated at least three times.

Did it work? Well, I was amazed to find that I forgot the awkwardness of application and the phenol-like taste almost immediately! The treatment is fast acting and within a minute it felt as if the inflammation was reducing; the pain had certainly abated. I was sold after one try. The chemical taste did not last very long at all, either.

The recommended dosage is to repeat every one and a half to three hours. In the interest of giving this product a full test (yes, even in the midst of my illness, I was thinking about reviewing this on dooyoo!), I reapplied it religiously every two hours or so for two days. After the first few tries, the spraying of Difflam onto my throat became second nature, I got used to this new 'technique' very quickly.

The container's design is not without drawbacks, however. The bottle must be kept upright at all times (I assume that the 'straw' is not liquid sealed and would leak if the bottle was laid on its side). This means that it cannot just be thrown into a pocket or handbag for use every couple of hours but must be stored on a shelf or table.

The other problem is that the nozzle can get blocked. To prevent this, it's recommended that the end is wiped with a tissue after use. If a blockage does occur, it's relatively easy to clean with careful application of warm water to the end

One other thing to note is that Difflam spray contains 8.1% alcohol. This is not enough to affect your blood/alcohol level (due to the small amount administered), but could give you some nasty moments if the 'boys in blue' decide they want a breath test from you. It's worth considering this if you're driving straight after taking Difflam spray.

I can honestly say that this is the best sore throat treatment I have ever used. Pain relief was immediate, and I'm convinced that the anti-inflammatory effect helped to reduce the severity of the infection and speed up my recovery. At a cost of around £6.00, I think this is good value for money, too.

The product has a two year shelf life so can be kept for the next 'episode'. Mine's taken an (upright) pride of place in my medicine cabinet, ready for its next use (which I hope is not too soon)!

Summary: The best treatment for sore throats I've ever tried.