Sinusitis (a sinus infection) can cause pain, facial pressure, and headaches. Home treatments, such as laying a steamy washcloth over the face, can help with common sinus complaints. However, if you suffer from intense sinus pain and headaches, you may want to talk to your doctor about sinus therapy.
What is Sinus Therapy?
Sinus therapy is the treatment of sinusitis with prescription drugs and/or nasal irrigation. It includes several different types of medications that may be administered by a nasal nebulizer, sinus rinse or nasal spray. The medications are often combined with a saline solution and used during nasal irrigation. Depending upon the cause of your sinus infection, your doctor may suggest any of the following:
- Antibiotics
- Anti-biofilm agents
- Antifungals
- Mucolytics or mucus thinners
- Anti-inflammatories
- Antihistamines
Treatment also depends upon whether you have chronic sinusitis, an acute sinus infection, allergic rhinitis, or other conditions of the sinuses. You may even receive a combination of the above treatments. The medications are typically given as nasal sprays, nasal irrigations, or by nasal nebulization. Physicians may also administer these medications in the office in the form of nasal gels that are placed deep into the sinus cavities.
When is Sinus Therapy Needed?
Sinus therapy is required whenever you have symptoms along the sinus passageways that don’t resolve on their own. Many conditions other than sinusitis can affect the sinuses, including allergic rhinitis, recurrent nasal polyps, fungal infection, or a buildup of biofilm and mucus. If you’ve had a recent sinus surgery, you may also need sinus therapy to treat post-operative crusting or infection during your recovery.
Sinus surgery is usually performed if you experience chronic sinus problems that don’t respond to conventional therapies. The purpose of sinus surgery is typically to improve your ability to drain the sinuses. This can be accomplished by removing sinus blockages, polyps, damaged or inflamed tissue, or bone. You have a greater chance of successful surgical results when you continue treatment to prevent future sinus problems. Compounded sinus formulations can help to keep your sinuses healthy following your surgery.
The Benefits of Sinus Therapy
The goals of sinus therapy are to treat the infection (which may be viral or bacterial) causing your symptoms, relieve pressure and pain by stimulating drainage, and reduce inflammation of the nasal and sinus passageways. To that end, topical sinus therapy – sinus solutions that are inhaled or applied nasally, provide the most efficient relief. Whether your doctor prescribes a sinus rinse, nose spray, or nebulizer solution, these formulations directly target the areas where your symptoms occur.
Directly targeting the sinuses also allows the medication to work while minimizing the potential for side effects that can occur when taking medications by mouth. We customize a compounded treatment will decrease mucous and inflammation right where these problems occur. And, the most important benefit of a compound medication is that the compounded sinus solution will be made specifically for your own needs, medical history, and sensitivities.
If you’re suffering from sinusitis or other sinus complaints, contact us. The knowledgeable pharmacists at The Compounding Pharmacy of Beverly Hills can prepare the exact formulation prescribed by your doctor and answer any questions you have regarding your medication.
