Editing Bell's palsy (section)

===Antivirals===
One review found that [[antivirals]] (such as [[aciclovir]]) are ineffective in improving recovery from Bell's palsy beyond steroids alone in mild to moderate disease.<ref name="Antiviral treatment of Bell's palsy">{{cite journal | vauthors = Turgeon RD, Wilby KJ, Ensom MH | title = Antiviral treatment of Bell's palsy based on baseline severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis | journal = The American Journal of Medicine | volume = 128 | issue = 6 | pages = 617–28 | date = June 2015 | pmid = 25554380 | doi = 10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.11.033 }}</ref> Another review found a benefit when combined with corticosteroids but stated the evidence was not very good to support this conclusion.<ref name=Gag2015 />

In severe disease, it is also unclear. One 2015 review found no effect regardless of severity.<ref name="Antiviral treatment of Bell's palsy"/> Another review found a small benefit when added to steroids.<ref name=Gag2015/>

They are commonly prescribed due to a theoretical link between Bell's palsy and the [[herpes simplex]] and [[varicella zoster virus]].<ref name="Sullivan-NEJM">{{cite journal | vauthors = Sullivan FM, Swan IR, Donnan PT, Morrison JM, Smith BH, McKinstry B, Davenport RJ, Vale LD, Clarkson JE, Hammersley V, Hayavi S, McAteer A, Stewart K, Daly F | display-authors = 6 | title = Early treatment with prednisolone or acyclovir in Bell's palsy | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 357 | issue = 16 | pages = 1598–607 | date = October 2007 | pmid = 17942873 | doi = 10.1056/NEJMoa072006 | s2cid = 3916563 | doi-access = free }}</ref> There is still the possibility that they might result in a benefit less than 7% as this has not been ruled out.<ref name="Evidence-based guideline update: st"/>