Tired of dealing with the discomfort of nasal polyps? Symptoms like a stuffy nose, postnasal drip, sinus infections, facial pain, and poor sense of smell can be alleviated with the right treatment.
“A range of treatments are available for nasal polyps,” says Cecelia Damask, DO, an ear, nose, and throat specialist in Lake Mary, FL.
Your doctor can create a treatment plan to shrink or eliminate these noncancerous growths in your nostrils and sinus cavities, making it easier for you to breathe.
Common medications used to treat nasal polyps include:
Topical steroids: Typically the first line of treatment, these medications reduce inflammation and shrink nasal polyps when delivered into the nasal passages through drops, sprays, nebulizers, and inhalers.
Your doctor can prescribe topical steroids, and over-the-counter versions are available as well. They are safe for long-term use, but symptoms may return when you stop using them.
Many people combine topical and oral steroids for more effectiveness in shrinking polyps and improving sense of smell.
An exhalation delivery system (EDS) is a newer tool that may be more effective than traditional nasal sprays in delivering medication directly to where it’s needed.
Oral steroids: These are common treatments for nasal polyps, especially for serious cases or when nasal sprays are not effective.
- Oral steroids can lead to side effects like high blood sugar, cataracts, glaucoma, osteoporosis, bone fractures, and heart problems.
Your doctor may recommend injectable steroids for more direct and effective treatment of nasal polyps.
Antibiotics: If you have a bacterial sinus infection along with nasal polyps, antibiotics may be prescribed to treat the infection and reduce inflammation.
Your doctor may suggest antihistamines and decongestants to help control symptoms like runny nose, congestion, and itchy eyes, in addition to other treatments.
Biologics: Injectables approved for nasal polyps in 2019, these medications target inflammation-causing proteins and offer significant benefits.
Immunotherapy and aspirin desensitization are other treatment options that can improve symptoms and reduce the risk of polyp recurrence.
If medications are not effective, surgery may be necessary, although nasal polyps have a tendency to return. It’s important to continue treatment to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
“There is a lot that can be done to help,” says Yasmin Bhasin, MD, allergist and immunologist at Allergy Asthma Care in Middletown, NY.