Sore Throat Medication

If you are singer or use your voice in any professional capacity and have a sore throat avoid sore throat meds and lozenges like the plague.

If your sore throat is caused by vocal strain, stop using your voice and rest... it's that simple. If it's caused by a cold or flu get plenty of rest and drink room temerature water. If resting your voice isn't an option and you absolutey have to perform, then perform with your sore throat within your limits. Do not ever by any means for any reason use things like Chloraseptic or Cepacal sprays or lozenges... you could do irrepairable damage to your vocal chords. These kinds of products should contain very large warning on them but they don't. They contain Anesthetics that make you feel better and give you a false sense that you can perform at 100%. You can't, and if you try you will create little tears in your vocal chords and they will bleed, leading to nodes that can only be removed surgically and your voice never fully recovers.(listen to old Elton John and New Elton John songs if you want to see a really good example of how node removal affects your voice)

I had many times singing with my band where I started to lose my voice over the course of a week long gig. The only option that works is to perform within the limitations of your sore throat. Don't go for the notes you can't hit, bring them down an octave, avoid the gaint songs and keep the audience dancing with easier songs to sing. Drink room temperature water and lots of it. Avoid alcohol, and during breaks don't visit with the bar guests... talking over the bar noise is the fastest way to wear out your voice. Water with honey, lemon, and cinnamon can sometimes help too.

Just remember to never ever under any circumstances use a product that masks the soreness in your throat. Your first and best choice is to rest your voice, but if you're in the middle of a run for a show or a gig then that soreness lets you know what your boudaries are... don't push past them. Anesthitizing your throat masks the pain and allows you to push way past where you should be and start damaging your voice permanantly... you only get one voice take care of it. Keep it well lubricated with lots of water, do a good vocal warm up, and get plenty of rest between shows.