Instant - But Brief - Relief from Sore Throat Pain (Tyrozets)

Member Name: Hishyeness

Product:	Tyrozets
Date:	14/07/09 (221 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Instantly soothes the pain. Pleasant tasting.

Disadvantages: Effect doesn't last nearly long enough.

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INTRODUCTION
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I am currently suffering from a nasty sore throat and after my GP declined to prescribe anything for my troubles, my wife did me the kindness of going to the chemist to try and get some over the counter medication to ease my woes. I sent her to get some sugar-free Strepsils, instead, on our local chemists recommendation, she opted for Tyrozets.

Never one to turn down a reviewing opportunity, I decided a contemporaneous write-up was in order. I figure if I have suffered this long, a few more moments on denying myself pain-alleviating medication is probably worth it (if a tad bit masochistic).

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PACKAGING & PRICE
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Tyrozets, produced by a division of Johnson & Johnson, come in a red and orange emblazoned cardboard box, featuring two plastic tubes with air tight stoppers holding 12 lozenges each, and a comprehensive patient information leaflet containing dosage instructions, as well as information on ingredients and proper usage (more on these later).

The sell by date is clearly printed on the box. This information, and the dosage instructions are also repeated on each tube in case you discard the box. They cost £3.25 from my local chemist, but they are available from larger stores for around £3.00.

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USE & EFFECT
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The tablets are pink in colour with a logo embossed on each side, have a pleasant aniseed taste and dissolve nicely when sucked, slowly releasing the two active ingredients; (a) tyrothricin - an antibiotic that helps fight throat infection, and; (b) benzocaine - a local anaesthetic that numbs the throat and reduces the pain.

I find them to be fairly effective. After finishing the first one I tried, the entire area at the back of my throat - and particularly the affected right side - went nicely numb and continued to stay numb for around twenty minutes before the effect started to wear off. The pain on swallowing was significantly reduced in a matter of moments, but I started to notice it again, albeit in diminished form, around half an hour later.

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DOSAGE & WARNINGS
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Adults and children over three are recommended to dissolve one lozenge in the mouth every three hours, with no more than eight doses in a twenty-four hour period for adults, and six for children. The product is not suitable for children under three. You are not supposed to use them for more than five consecutive days.

Tyrothricin is an antibiotic and benzocaine an anaesthetic, so anyone allergic to these substances would obviously need to steer clear. The product also contains added sucrose, which can affect blood sugar management by diabetics. However, the amount in each tablet is so small, the effect will be minimal, and I (as a Type 2 diabetic myself) am relatively happy to use them. Finally, there is a small amount of peppermint oil which some people don't seem to get on with.

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VERDICT
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They taste pleasant, provide Instant relief from the pain of a sore throat, but are perhaps not as long lasting as I had anticipated. Nevertheless, they are one of the most effective over-the-counter medications I have used for sore throat (certainly much better than Strepsils). Recommended.

© Hishyeness 2009

Summary: Better than other products, it provides a brief respite that doesn't last too long.