Tired of living with nasal congestion, postnasal drip, sinusitis, facial pain, loss of smell, and other symptoms associated with nasal polyps? It's time to seek treatment.
„There are many different treatments for nasal polyps,“ says Dr. Cecelia Damask, an ear, nose and throat specialist in Lake Mary, Florida.
Your doctor can create a treatment plan aimed at shrinking or eliminating these noncancerous growths in your nostrils and sinuses so you can breathe easier.
The most common drugs used to treat nasal polyps are:
Topical steroids: This is usually the first treatment your doctor recommends for nasal polyps. These drugs are delivered to the nasal passages by drops, sprays, nebulizers, or inhalers to reduce inflammation and shrink nasal polyps.
Not only are they effective, Damask says, but they also have fewer side effects than oral steroids.
Your doctor can prescribe topical steroids, or you can purchase over-the-counter versions. It is safe to use for long periods of time. Symptoms return when use is stopped.
Many people use it in combination with other treatments. Studies have shown that a combination of topical and oral steroids is more effective at shrinking polyps and improving the sense of smell than topical steroids alone.
A new tool called an exhaled breath delivery system (EDS) may work more effectively than traditional nasal sprays to get medicine where it's needed. EDS connects to your nose and mouth. Breathe into the device to push the medication deep into your nasal passages.
Oral steroids: Oral steroids are one of the most common treatments for nasal polyps. Your doctor may prescribe the following:
- If you have severe sinus disease
- If nasal polyps are likely to recur
- If sprays are not effective in shrinking polyps or relieving symptoms
„Oral steroids work wonders,“ Damask says.
Still, they come with some risks. Repeated use of oral steroids has been linked to serious side effects, including high blood sugar, cataracts, glaucoma, osteoporosis, bone fractures, and heart disease, she says.
„These side effects can occur after just four bursts of oral steroids over a lifetime,“ Professor Damask says.
Doctors probably do not recommend long-term use of oral steroids because of the risk of side effects. The effects usually last for several months.
Injectable steroids: Your doctor can inject the steroid medication directly into the nasal polyp, which will help more of the medication reach the area. The effects of steroid injections should last for at least 3 months.
They are as effective as oral steroids at reducing inflammation, relieving symptoms, and shrinking polyps, but they tend to have fewer side effects. However, some people have experienced short-term vision loss as a side effect.
If the polyp is severe, your doctor may recommend steroid injections. However, if you have multiple large polyps, it may not be possible to remove them with injections.
Antibiotics: Nasal polyps and sinus infections often go hand in hand. If you have a bacterial sinus infection with nasal polyps, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. (Most sinus infections are caused by viruses, so antibiotics are ineffective in treating them.)
Antibiotics treat infections that cause inflammation. Other drugs, such as steroids, may also be given to shrink the polyp.
Antihistamines and decongestants: Although these drugs don't actually treat nasal polyps, your doctor may recommend them in addition to other treatments to reduce symptoms such as runny nose, redness, and itchy eyes. Yes, says Dr. Yasmin Bhasin, an allergist and immunologist at Allergy Asthma Care. Middletown, New York.
„Antihistamines and decongestants can also reduce nasal swelling,“ she says.
Biological products: In 2019, the FDA approved the use of biologics for nasal polyps. These injectable drugs target proteins that cause inflammation and swelling. Bhasin calls biologics the „ultimate weapon“ against nasal polyps.
The first few doses will be given in the doctor's office so doctors can monitor for side effects such as pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, she said. If there are no side effects, you can inject it at home using a special pen.
Studies have shown that people who took biologics had less severe sinusitis, improved sense of smell, and smaller nasal polyps.
Immunotherapy: Allergies can cause inflammation and cause nasal polyp growth. So it stands to reason that getting allergy shots can be helpful.
One study found that when people with nasal polyps received immunotherapy injections every two weeks for a year, their symptoms were reduced and the number of polyps was reduced. There were also almost no side effects from the drug.
Treating allergies can also reduce the risk of nasal polyps coming back, says Bhasin.
Aspirin desensitization: People with aspirin intolerance are at increased risk of developing nasal polyps. Aspirin intolerance appears to increase the release of eosinophils, white blood cells that increase inflammation.
Aspirin desensitization involves taking increased doses of aspirin under your doctor's supervision. The goal is to prevent nasal polyps from recurring and reduce the need to take steroid medications.
There are many medications available to treat nasal polyps, but if they are not effective enough, surgery may be required.
But it's not a cure. Nasal polyps are more likely to recur. According to research, 79% of those who underwent surgery saw further growth within 12 years. And more than a third underwent additional surgery.
Still, treatment is important to control symptoms and improve quality of life.
“There are a lot of things you can do to really help,” Bhasin says.