Your body’s own immune system will clear a strep throat infection within about 1 week. Taking antibiotics has been shown to reduce pain around three days after starting them, and to make symptoms go away about one day faster than without antibiotics. It may still take 1-2 weeks for your sore throat to fully go away, even on antibiotics. You should let your provider know if your throat is worsening after 3-4 days or not improving after 1-2 weeks.