Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
| | A | | | B | | | C | | | D | | | E | | | F | | | G | | | H | | | I | | | J | | | K | | | L | | | M | |
| | N | | | O | | | P | | | Q | | | R | | | S | | | T | | | U | | | V | | | W | | | X | | | Y | |
Treatment of Bell's palsy
In most cases Bell’s palsy gets better spontaneously, without treatment.
There is some evidence that early use of oral steroids (prednisolone) is effective in improving outcomes in some people, so these are often prescribed.
Acyclovir, an antiviral medication, may also be prescribed. However, there is only limited evidence to show this is effective.
Eye care is very important if the eye is affected. You should use eye-drops or artificial tears to keep the eye moist. It is important not to scratch the cornea (the thin, transparent layer covering the eye), so you may be advised to wear protective glasses or an eye patch by day and to tape the affected eye at night. You should be referred to an ophthalmologist (a doctor who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and in the prevention of eye disease and injury) if any eye symptoms occur.
Facial massage, facial exercise and the use of electrical stimulation may also be helpful in long-term Bell’s palsy.
Some people find that acupuncture is successful in the treatment of the symptoms of Bell’s Palsy. Studies have shown that the therapeutic effect of acupuncture was superior to that of medication or that acupuncture combined with medication was better than medication alone. However the quality of the studies was inadequate and more research is needed.
