Cold Ezee works well to cut the time of a cold. It has zinc in the middle, which helps to boost the immune system. Warning, though, do not drink citric acid (orange juice, apple juice, tomatoes, etc) a few hours before or after taking it. Vitamin C inhibits the absorption of zinc, so you need to take the zinc separately from Vit. C for full absorption.
Another thing that works well for sore throats is Halls cold drops. I don't particularly like the way they taste, but swallowly the liquid as it melts help to numb up the throat some.
Otherwise, there are throat sprays that give temporary relief. Keep yourself hydrated with water and juices. If your throat dries out, it will hurt more. Drinking a lot of hydrating fluids (i.e. not soda) will help keep your throat less sore.