Difflam Rinse & Spray

What is Difflam?

Difflam is a brand of products used to treat sore throats caused by the common cold, infections or injury. Difflam contains the active ingredient benzydamine hydrochloride, which comes under the category of medicines known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

When Difflam products are applied directly to the mouth it gets to work immediately reducing pain and targeting inflammation, quickly leaving you feeling more comfortable.

Difflam is suitable for short-term use to offer temporary relief from a sore throat. The throat spray can be used by children and adults over 1 month and the oral rinse in those over the age of 12 years every 1.5 - 3 hours as required.

If you do not notice an improvement to your condition while using Difflam or your condition worsens you should speak to a doctor for advice.

What is Difflam used for?

Both Difflam throat spray and oral rinse offer effective short-term relief from oral pain. Difflam can be used to relieve pain caused by the following conditions.

Common causes of throat and mouth pain include:

• Mouth ulcers
• Common cold
• Infections - oral thrush
• Dental or oral surgery

How does Difflam work?

Benzydamine is the active ingredient in Difflam that is used to reduce pain and inflammation in the mouth and throat.

It is a medicine known as an NSAID which blocks the body’s natural response to pain and inflammation making your mouth feel almost instantly less painful. It works as a local anaesthetic making the areas in which it has come into contact with feel temporarily numb.

It is important that while using products such as Difflam that contain Benzydamine that you avoid eating and drinking very hot food and drink as you are at an increased risk of burning yourself and not being able to feel the impact as you usually would.

Sources

• https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/benzydamine-hydrochloride.html
• https://patient.info/medicine/benzydamine-for-sore-mouththroat-difflam
• Difflam Throat Spray Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/827/pil
• Difflam Sore Throat Rinse Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9258/pil

Difflam warnings

Before using either Difflam throat spray or Difflam oral rinse, please read the Patient Information Leaflet for the full information on warnings and precautions.

• Speak to a doctor or pharmacist or dentist before using Difflam if you suffer from asthma.
• Or if you are allergic to acetylsalicylic acid or another (NSAID) drug.
• Tell a doctor, pharmacist or dentist before using this product if you are currently taking or have recently stopped taking any other prescribed or non-prescribed medication.

Difflam & pregnancy

Speak to a doctor, pharmacist or dentist before using Difflam if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Difflam dosage

Difflam throat spray and oral rinse are for oral use only. Throat spray can be used by children and adults over the age of 1 month and the rinse is suitable for those over 12 years.

Difflam throat spray:

Children 1 month to 6 years old: Spray to the back of the throat, or sore area using 1 puff for every 4 kg of weight. The maximum dose is 4 puffs every 1.5 - 3 hours.

Children 6 - 12 years old: Spray 4 puffs to the back of the throat or sore area every 1.5 - 3 hours.

Children and adults over the age of 12 years: Spray 4-8 puffs to the back of the throat or sore area every 1.5 - 3 hours.

Difflam oral rinse:

Children and adults over the age of 12 years:

1. Using the measuring cup provided, measure out 15 ml of Difflam.
2. Gargle and swill round your mouth for 20 - 30 seconds and then spit out. Do not swallow.
3. Use every 1.5 - 3 hours as required.

Before using either Difflam throat spray or Difflam oral rinse, please read the Patient Information Leaflet for full details on how to use these products.

Difflam Ingredients

Difflam throat spray and rinse both contain the active ingredient: Benzydamine hydrochloride

Throat spray also contains the inactive ingredients: Glycerol, saccharin, sodium bicarbonate, ethanol, methyl hydroxybenzoate, polysorbate 20 and purified water.

Oral Rinse also contains the inactive ingredients: Ethanol, Glycerol, saccharin, sodium hydrogen carbonate, polysorbate 20, methyl para hydroxybenzoate, quinoline yellow (E104) and patent blue V (E131), purified water.

Before using either Difflam throat spray or Difflam oral rinse, please read the Patient Information Leaflet for detailed information.

Difflam side effects

It is uncommon for people to experience side effects when using Difflam, however, around 1 in 1000 will experience them. If you are concerned about any side effects you experience when using this product you should speak to a doctor for advice.

Side effects may include:

• Numbness or stinging in the mouth and throat
• Itching or a skin rash

If you experience a severe allergic reaction when using this product, whereby you are experiencing difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, tightness in your chest. If you experience any of these side effects you must seek immediate medical help as this can be life-threatening.

Before using either Difflam throat spray or Difflam oral rinse, please read the Patient Information Leaflet for detailed information.