Not Worth the Money: My Honest Review of Oki Solution for Gargling

I've been hearing about Oki solution for gargling for ages, and it used to be the go-to remedy for treating a sore throat. People swore it worked like a charm to knock out the pain in no time.

I first bought it three years ago when I was down with a cold and had a sore throat. Back then, and still now, it's not exactly cheap.

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Full name: Oki solution for gargling (producer Dompe Farmaceutici)

Volume: 150 ml

Cost: around 800 rubles

Country of origin:Italy

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▶▶▶▶Appearance:

The bottle comes in a cardboard box.

In the package, you'll find the actual medication, instructions, and a measuring cup. The bottle is made of opaque plastic, and the medication itself is a bright, translucent green.

Using Oki is a breeze - you just mix 10 ml of the solution with 100 ml of water. That's exactly half of the measuring cup. Oki itself has a vibrant green color, and the resulting solution is a soft, blue-green hue. The taste is pleasant, minty, and reminds me of a mouthwash.

The 150 ml bottle should last you around 15 applications.

I found that following the instructions to rinse your mouth 2 times a day isn't always the best approach. In my experience, doctors often recommend different frequencies and concentrations.

For example, some doctors recommended rinsing every 3-4 hours, which is way more often than the 2 times a day suggested in the instructions.

Others recommended making a more concentrated solution, using 30-50ml of the medication per 100ml of water, rather than the 10ml suggested in the instructions. I've even seen some people recommend not diluting it at all.

And then there are cases where doctors recommended this medication for kids as young as 10, despite the instructions clearly stating it's not suitable for kids under 12.

It seems like this medication is considered safe, even if you accidentally swallow some. The manufacturer says that a single dose for rinsing contains 160mg of ketoprofen lysine, which is the same amount you'd take orally.

Accidental swallowing of the solution doesn't lead to serious consequences, as a single dose for rinsing contains 160mg of ketoprofen lysine, which is the same amount you'd take orally.

Indications:

Symptomatic treatment of inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract - tonsillitis (tonsillitis), laryngitis, pharyngitis;

Inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity - stomatitis, gingivitis, glossitis, aphtha, periodontopathy, chronic periodontitis;

As an analgesic during dental procedures.

Contraindications:

Increased sensitivity to ketoprofen and other components of the medication, acetylsalicylic acid, or other NSAIDs;

Complete or incomplete bronchial asthma;

Recurring nasal polyps or around-the-nose sinusitis and intolerance to acetylsalicylic acid and other NSAIDs (including in the past);

Childhood (under 12 years);

Pregnancy over 20 weeks.

Composition

Per 10 ml solution:

Active ingredient: ketoprofen lysine (ketoprofen lysine salt) 160.0 mg.

Excipients: glycerol 85% 2000.0 mg, ethanol 0.5 ml, methylparahydroxybenzoate 15.0 mg, peppermint flavor 30.0 mg, levomenthol 7.0 mg, sodium saccharinate 20.0 mg, "Verde Chertosa" dye (brilliant green) 1.6 mg, sodium dihydrogen phosphate to pH 6.0-6.5, purified water to 10 ml.

The main active ingredient is ketoprofen.

I've used it before, in the form of injections and a topical gel that's always been in my first-aid kit - it's a lifesaver for joint and ligament pain. This ketoprofen mouthwash is a new one for me. I'm not sure why it's always prescribed as OxyKet, when there's a cheaper alternative, ketoprofen, that's half the price.

▶▶▶▶ Usage and results:

➠ I bought OxyKet three years ago when I had a sore throat and aching joints. I followed the instructions and mixed 10 ml with 100 ml of water (a half cup) and used it twice a day for a few days. I also used throat lozenges to help soothe my throat.

My main goal was to ease the pain and stop my throat from feeling raw. Unfortunately, it doesn't do a great job of that. At first, the pain does subside a bit, and it feels like a gentle numbing effect, but that only lasts for about 10 minutes. After that, the pain and discomfort come back.

Despite that, I continued using it, and after four or five days, my symptoms had cleared up completely. But to be honest, I'm not sure if it was the mouthwash or just the passage of time - my throat usually clears up on its own within the same timeframe.

I have no idea how anyone could use it as an anesthetic for dental procedures - it's just not strong enough.

Alright, so the results were pretty underwhelming. Since I still had some leftover Oki in the medicine cabinet, we ended up using it for the next colds in the family, but the situation was always the same.

➠ I tried using it for other purposes, like treating mouth ulcers, which my daughter often gets after a cold. We'd treat the cold, and then try to deal with the mouth ulcers afterwards. But it didn't really work for that either. I mean, Oki is basically symptomatic treatment, so it's not going to cure anything, but it also didn't help with the mouth ulcers.

➠ Fast forward a few years, and I completely forgot about Oki, but then my husband was prescribed it as part of his comprehensive treatment for a cold. His symptoms included a persistent sore throat, mucus, and congestion, along with a mild case of angina with some small pus-filled bumps. Unfortunately, the treatment didn't really do much, and Oki didn't provide any relief for his sore throat. In fact, the doctor even recommended using a more concentrated solution for gargling, three to four times a day, which didn't really help either. Gargling with Oki would give me some temporary relief for about 10-15 minutes, but that was it. The pus-filled bumps were still there.

So, I'd say Oki is officially off our family's list of go-to remedies for sore throats. It's not like it's completely useless, but it's just not that effective.

My tried-and-true method, which I've been using for years: When I have a sore throat, I've found that the following combination works wonders: gargling with a furalcin or weak baking soda solution every 3-4 hours, plus using a spray like Tantum Verde or Angidak. These two products can usually clear up a sore throat in a matter of days.

And if I need something to help me get some relief in a pinch, like when I'm trying to fall asleep or just can't take it anymore, I always keep some regular Halls lozenges on hand. I prefer the black ones, which are super strong and give me a nice, intense cooling sensation that helps numb the pain.