Yeah, I avoid strepsils. Unfortunately cold/flu symptoms are part of my long covid so I've been dicking around with all sorts of lozenges and I found the strepsils made my tongue and inner cheek numb. So yeah, I get that they would ease/numb a sore throat but I just wasn't comfortable with something causing that amount of numbness in my system.
You can buy Propolis lozenges - made from Bee Propolis. They get a bit sticky inside the wrappers but they are gentle and soothing.
Shouldn't be anything to cause numbness or discomfort.
And theres always those lovely gentle blackcurrant soft lozenges.