Template:Bell's palsy Treatment
Steroids
Should be started within 72hrs of symptom onset[1]
- Prednisone 60-80mg qday x1wk[2] (Level B Evidence)[3]
Antivirals
Most likely no added benefit when combined with steroids.[4] However also little harm associated with antivirals especially in patients with normal renal function[3]
- Valacyclovir 1000mg TID x1 week[2] OR
- Acyclovir 400mg 5x per day x1 week
- ↑ Vargish L. For Bell’s palsy, start steroids early; no need for an antiviral. J Fam Pract. Jan 2008; 57(1): 22–25http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183838/pdf/JFP-57-22.pdf
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 UpToDate. Bell's Palsy Prognosis and Treatment. March, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gronseth GS, Paduga R. Evidence-based guideline update: Steroids and antivirals for Bell palsy: Report of the Guideline Development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2012Full Text
- ↑ Lockhart et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Oct 7;(4):CD001869.