Illustration of a checklist with a tick and a speech bubble, representing an NHS Pharmacy First consultation

Do you need antibiotics for a sore throat? What a pharmacist can do

ByZain Rajabali

A sore throat can knock you out for a few days: it hurts to swallow, you feel run down, and by day two or three it’s tempting to think you need antibiotics to shift it. Most of the time, you don’t. But sometimes a pharmacist can help more than you’d expect, and without a GP appointment.

Here’s what actually helps, when antibiotics come into it, and when to get medical help.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. If you’re worried about your symptoms, speak to a pharmacist.

The short answer

  • Most sore throats are caused by viruses, like colds or flu, and get better on their own within a week.
  • Antibiotics usually won’t help. The NHS says you don’t normally need them for a sore throat, because they won’t usually relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.
  • A pharmacist can assess you under NHS Pharmacy First if you’re aged 5 or over. If you could have a bacterial infection, they can give the same antibiotic treatment as a GP.
  • Call 999 if someone has difficulty breathing, can’t swallow or is drooling.

Why antibiotics usually aren’t the answer

Sore throats are usually caused by viruses, like a cold or flu, or by smoking. The NHS says they’re only very occasionally caused by bacteria. Antibiotics only work on bacteria, so for most sore throats they do nothing for the pain and don’t make it go away any faster.

Taking them when they won’t help still carries the side effects, and it makes antibiotics less likely to work when you really need them. That’s why, as the NHS puts it, you’ll only be given antibiotics by a pharmacist or GP if you could have a bacterial infection.

What helps a sore throat

The NHS suggests these to soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts:

  • gargle with warm, salty water: half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, then spit it out (children shouldn’t try this)
  • drink plenty of water
  • eat cool or soft foods
  • suck ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets (but not young children, because of the risk of choking)
  • avoid smoking and smoky places
  • rest

A pharmacist can also recommend things to ease the pain, such as:

  • paracetamol or ibuprofen (don’t give aspirin to children under 16)
  • medicated lozenges containing a local anaesthetic, antiseptic or anti-inflammatory medicine
  • anaesthetic throat sprays, although the NHS says there’s little proof they help on their own

Some of these aren’t suitable for everyone, for example if you’re pregnant, so it’s worth asking before you buy.

Sore throat or tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils, at the sides of your throat. The NHS says it can feel like a bad cold or flu, with red, swollen tonsils. Other signs can include problems swallowing, a high temperature, swollen glands in your neck, and pus-filled spots or white patches on your tonsils.

Like most sore throats, tonsillitis is usually caused by a virus and usually gets better on its own after 3 to 4 days, although it can last longer.

Sore throat and ear pain

It’s common to have both. Earache is one of the symptoms of tonsillitis listed by the NHS, and a sore throat can make your ears feel sore too.

If your child aged 1 to 17 has earache, that’s also covered by Pharmacy First. If you’re an adult with earache that isn’t getting better, or you’re worried, speak to a pharmacist or GP.

What happens at the pharmacy

Sore throat is one of the seven conditions covered by NHS Pharmacy First, for anyone aged 5 or over. You don’t need a GP appointment.

At MediPill, you can walk in or book. The pharmacist will ask about your symptoms and how long you’ve had them, look at your throat, and check your medical history and any medicines you take. Then they’ll either:

  1. Give you advice and recommend over-the-counter treatment, which is the outcome for most sore throats.
  2. Supply antibiotics if you could have a bacterial infection and need them.
  3. Refer you to a GP, NHS 111 or urgent care if your symptoms need a doctor.

Cost: the consultation is free on the NHS. If you’re given a medicine, the standard NHS prescription charge applies, unless you get free prescriptions. Children under 16 always do, as do people aged 60 or over and 16 to 18 year olds in full-time education.

When to see a GP, call 111 or call 999

The NHS says to see a GP if:

  • your child is under 5 and needs help for a sore throat
  • a sore throat doesn’t improve after a week
  • you often get sore throats
  • you have a sore throat with a lump in your mouth or neck, or a mouth ulcer that lasts more than 3 weeks

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if you or your child have a sore throat and:

  • you’re worried about your symptoms
  • you have a very high temperature, or feel hot, cold or shivery
  • you have signs of dehydration, like peeing less than usual or dark, strong-smelling pee
  • you have a weakened immune system, for example because of diabetes or chemotherapy

The NHS tonsillitis page also says to get help from NHS 111 if you have pus-filled spots on your tonsils, or a sore throat so painful it’s difficult to eat or drink.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you or your child:

  • have difficulty breathing or can’t swallow
  • are drooling, which can be a sign of not being able to swallow
  • are making a high-pitched sound when breathing
  • have severe symptoms that are getting worse quickly

Rarely, tonsillitis can lead to an abscess called quinsy. The NHS says swelling inside the mouth and throat, difficulty speaking or opening your mouth, and a severe sore throat that quickly gets worse are signs of it, and need 999 or A&E.

Common questions

Do I need antibiotics for a sore throat? Usually not. Most sore throats are caused by viruses and get better on their own within a week. A pharmacist or GP will only give antibiotics if you could have a bacterial infection.

Can a pharmacist give antibiotics for a sore throat or tonsillitis? Yes, if you’re aged 5 or over and need them, through NHS Pharmacy First. The NHS says a pharmacist can give the same antibiotic treatment for a sore throat as a GP.

How long does a sore throat last? The NHS says sore throats normally get better by themselves within a week, and tonsillitis usually within 3 to 4 days. If yours isn’t improving after a week, see a GP.

My child is 3 and has a sore throat. Can you help? We can give advice, but Pharmacy First treatment for a sore throat is for ages 5 and over. The NHS advises seeing a GP for children under 5 who need help for a sore throat.

Can I be seen at the weekend? Yes. Botley is open Saturdays 9 to 2, and Summertown and Deddington 9 to 12. Headington is closed at weekends.

Pharmacy First at MediPill

All four of our branches offer NHS Pharmacy First. Walk in, or book a slot so you’re seen without waiting:

More on the service is on our NHS Pharmacy First page. Questions first? Get in touch and a pharmacist will come back to you.

More Pharmacy First guides

Sources

  1. Sore throat – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/sore-throat/ (accessed 23 September 2026)
  2. Tonsillitis – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tonsillitis/ (accessed 23 September 2026)
  3. How pharmacies can help – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/ (accessed 23 September 2026)
  4. Free NHS prescriptions – NHS Business Services Authority. https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/free-nhs-prescriptions (accessed 23 September 2026)

Written by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist – GPhC #2219769
Medically reviewed by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist, Independent Prescriber – GPhC #2219769
Last reviewed: 23 September 2026 · Next review due: September 2027

This article is general health information and is not a substitute for a consultation. It does not diagnose your symptoms. Whether treatment is appropriate, and which, is decided at an individual assessment with a pharmacist, in line with NHS Pharmacy First criteria.

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