Nasal polyps are painless, soft, and non-cancerous growth, which develops on the nasal passage or sinus linings. They have teardrop or grape-like shapes. Usually, nasal polyps develop due to a recurring infection, allergies, drug sensitivity, or immune system disorder. So, how can we treat the nasal polyps? Let us take a look at some treatment options for nasal polyps.
Medications
Primarily the objective of nasal polyps treatment is to either eliminate the polyps or reduce their size. For this, the first approach is always medication. With the medication, the doctors try to make the large polyps disappear or shrink.
A few drug treatments used for treating nasal polyps are as follows.
- Nasal corticosteroids
If nasal polyps have caused irritation and swelling in you, the doctor will recommend a corticosteroid nasal spray. It is an effective treatment, which does eliminate or shrink the polyps completely.
Some of the common corticosteroids prescribed by the doctor are fluticasone (Xhance, Flovent HFA, Flonase Allergy Relief), beclomethasone (Qnasl, Qvar Redihaler, Beconase AQ), budesonide (Rhinocort), triamcinolone (Nasacort Allergy 24HR), mometasone (Asmanex HFA, Nasonex), and ciclesonide (Zetonna, Alvesco, Omnaris)
- Injectable and oral corticosteroids
In case the nasal corticosteroid does not seem to work on you, your doctor will prescribe an oral corticosteroid. It includes prednisone. This treatment option for nasal polyps will be used either singularly or in combination with a doctor-prescribed nasal spray. However, it is essential to note that oral corticosteroids may have serious side effects. Thus, you must take them for a limited period only. If the polyps are more grave, you will have to opt for the injectable corticosteroids.
- Medications to provide relief from chronic sinusitis
In people with chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps, the doctor will recommend an injection medication called Dupixent or dupilumab to provide you some relief. It is a great medication to reduce the size of the polyp and lower the congestion rate.
- Other medications
Additionally, the doctor might even prescribe you some drugs, which can treat the underlying conditions that may cause long-term swelling in the nasal passage or sinuses. It includes antihistamines that help treat allergies or the antibodies that can relieve you from recurring or chronic infection.
- Aspirin desensitization
This should be taken only under medical professionals’ care with the requisite experience in polyps desensitization. It is an excellent treatment option for people who have aspirin and nasal polyps sensitivity. This treatment gradually increases the aspirin amount you take while you are in the hospital under a doctor’s care. It will enable you to tolerate aspirin in the long term.
Surgery
At times, the polyps are massive. In this case, the medications do not work. Hence, the only viable solution is surgery. In a nasal polyps treatment surgery, a tiny nasal telescope helps get rid of the nasal polyps. After undergoing surgery, you can return home the same day. Though surgery works in almost all cases, it may not be useful if you have aspirin or asthma sensitivity.
