Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPrescriptionsOTC TherapiesSurgeryHome RemediesNext in Nasal Polyps GuideWhat Are Nasal Polyps?
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Table of Contents
Prescriptions
OTC Therapies
Surgery
Home Remedies
Next in Nasal Polyps Guide
Nasal polypsare soft, swollen, abnormal, sac-like growths that line the inside of a person’s nose or sinuses. Treatment may include medications to shrink them or managesymptomslike nasal congestion and sinus pressure. If this doesn’t help, surgery to remove them may be recommended.
This article discusses the different types of treatments for nasal polyps, including prescriptions, over-the-counter therapies, surgery, and home remedies.
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What Are Nasal Polyps?
Most of the medications used to treat nasal polyps require a prescription. The goal is to shrink the polyps and reduce swelling and nasal congestion. These treatments include the following.
Nasal Steroid Sprays and Drops
Your healthcare provider may prescribe a nasal steroid spray to help reduce the size of nasal polyps. The prescription nasal spray Nasonex (mometasone) aims to shrink polyps and help clear blocked nasal passages and runny nose.
In 2017, the FDA also approved Xhance (fluticasone propionate) for treatment of nasal polyps.Xhance is a spray that enters the nasal passages via an oral mechanism. However, symptoms return if the spray is stopped.
Corticosteroid Pills or Liquid
Oral corticosteroids like prednisone and dexamethasone may also shrink polyps and/or reduce swelling and nasal congestion for a few months.
Oral corticosteroids have a number of potential side effects, including dizziness, headache, muscle weakness, nausea, and vomiting, among others.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics may be prescribed if your healthcare provider suspects you have an infection related to the nasal polyps.
Biologic Medication
Dupixent (dupilumab) has been shown to decrease polyp size, reducing the need for surgery and oral steroids.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the potential side effects of Dupixent, which can include oral herpes and a number of eye-related issues.
Oral Antileukotriene Medications
Oralantileukotrienemedications, like Singulair (montelukast), have also been found to reduce the size of nasal polyps.
These medications are beneficial for those with a chronic condition called aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). AERD involves an allergic reaction to aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but it also can cause nasal polyps.
Those taking the drugs phenobarbital or rifampin should talk to their healthcare provider before starting Singulair, as interactions may occur.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Therapies
Your healthcare provider may also recommend over-the-counter (OTC) therapies. OTC medicines can help you deal with nasal congestion from polyps, reduce inflammation, and manage your allergies.
While OTC treatments may help to manage symptoms, they may not be as effective as prescriptions in decreasing the size of your polyps.Check with your healthcare provider if you feel like OTC treatments aren’t working.
Examples of OTC treatments include:
Surgeries
In situations where medications aren’t doing much to alleviate your symptoms related to nasal polyps, your healthcare provider may recommendsurgery.
Most often, endoscopic sinus surgery is performed. Much like the endoscope used to diagnose nasal polyps, the surgeon will use a thin, flexible tube with a light and instruments at the other end.
The tube is inserted into the nasal passages. Then the surgeon uses instruments to remove any polyps that are preventing the flow of sinus and nasal fluids from properly draining.
This is typically an outpatient procedure. There is no guarantee that the nasal polyps won’t regrow.
Can Nasal Polyps Grow Back?Unfortunately, it is not unusual for nasal polyps to grow back after they are surgically removed. To help keep them at bay, your healthcare provider may prescribe inhaled nasal steroids for you to take following your surgery.
Can Nasal Polyps Grow Back?
Unfortunately, it is not unusual for nasal polyps to grow back after they are surgically removed. To help keep them at bay, your healthcare provider may prescribe inhaled nasal steroids for you to take following your surgery.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
These remedies can also help improve mucus flow and relieve nasal symptoms that occur with nasal polyps.
Some examples include:
Summary
If you have nasal polyps, your healthcare provider may recommendtrying medications first.They may prescribe a nasal steroid spray, oral corticosteroid, antibiotic, or oral antileukotriene medication. They may also suggest over-the-counter medication to help manage symptoms.
If these treatments don’t work, your healthcare provider may recommend outpatient surgery to remove the nasal polyps.
A Word From Verywell
While there are ways to help treat the symptoms related to nasal polyps, there isn’t a way that will remove them once and for all. Medications can make living with nasal polyps more bearable—in some cases, even shrinking them a bit. The only way to remove them is through surgery. But even that isn’t a guarantee that they won’t return.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Nasal polyps.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Xhance (fluticasone propionate) nasal spray.Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA approves first treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.Wentzel JL, Soler ZM, DeYoung K, Nguyen SA, Lohia S, Schlosser RJ.Leukotriene antagonists in nasal polyposis: A meta-analysis and systematic review.American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy. 2013;27(6):482-489. doi:10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3976Graefe H, Roebke C, Schäfer D, Meyer JE.Aspirin sensitivity and chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps: A fatal combination.Journal of Allergy. 2012;2012:1-10. doi:10.1155/2012/817910National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Fluticasone nasal spray.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Nasal polyps.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Xhance (fluticasone propionate) nasal spray.Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA approves first treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.Wentzel JL, Soler ZM, DeYoung K, Nguyen SA, Lohia S, Schlosser RJ.Leukotriene antagonists in nasal polyposis: A meta-analysis and systematic review.American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy. 2013;27(6):482-489. doi:10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3976Graefe H, Roebke C, Schäfer D, Meyer JE.Aspirin sensitivity and chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps: A fatal combination.Journal of Allergy. 2012;2012:1-10. doi:10.1155/2012/817910National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Fluticasone nasal spray.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Nasal polyps.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Xhance (fluticasone propionate) nasal spray.Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA approves first treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.Wentzel JL, Soler ZM, DeYoung K, Nguyen SA, Lohia S, Schlosser RJ.Leukotriene antagonists in nasal polyposis: A meta-analysis and systematic review.American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy. 2013;27(6):482-489. doi:10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3976Graefe H, Roebke C, Schäfer D, Meyer JE.Aspirin sensitivity and chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps: A fatal combination.Journal of Allergy. 2012;2012:1-10. doi:10.1155/2012/817910National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Fluticasone nasal spray.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Nasal polyps.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Xhance (fluticasone propionate) nasal spray.
Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA approves first treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
Wentzel JL, Soler ZM, DeYoung K, Nguyen SA, Lohia S, Schlosser RJ.Leukotriene antagonists in nasal polyposis: A meta-analysis and systematic review.American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy. 2013;27(6):482-489. doi:10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3976
Graefe H, Roebke C, Schäfer D, Meyer JE.Aspirin sensitivity and chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps: A fatal combination.Journal of Allergy. 2012;2012:1-10. doi:10.1155/2012/817910
National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Fluticasone nasal spray.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
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