A steroid nasal spray for hay fever
Mometasone (nasal spray)
A steroid nasal spray for hay fever, persistent allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps that works best with regular use and takes a few days for full effect.
What is Mometasone (nasal spray)?
Mometasone nasal spray is a steroid spray that calms inflammation in the lining of the nose, easing the sneezing, itching, runniness and blockage of hay fever and persistent allergic rhinitis, and it is also used for nasal polyps. It works best when used every day and can take a few days to reach its full effect, with very little absorbed into the body.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Mometasone (nasal spray) — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Mometasone nasal spray is a corticosteroid that is sprayed into the nose to treat hay fever, longer-lasting (persistent) allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps. Unlike a decongestant spray, it is a preventer-style treatment used regularly, and very little of it is absorbed into the rest of the body. Some versions are available over the counter and others on prescription.
How it works
Allergic and inflammatory nasal symptoms come from swelling and irritation of the nasal lining. Mometasone, a steroid, calms that inflammation directly in the nose, reducing the swelling, itching, sneezing, runniness and blockage over time. Because it damps down inflammation rather than blocking a single chemical, it works best when used consistently and builds up its effect over a few days.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Originally developed by Schering-Plough (now Merck/MSD)..
Mometasone is a corticosteroid introduced in the 1990s and widely used in nasal-spray and inhaled forms.
What it treats
Conditions Mometasone (nasal spray) is used for
Practical use
How to take Mometasone (nasal spray)
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Shake the bottle and, if it is new or unused for a while, prime it into the air first.
- Blow your nose gently, then tilt your head slightly forward.
- Spray into each nostril, aiming towards the outer side and away from the central wall (septum) to lower the chance of nosebleeds.
- Breathe in gently as you spray and avoid sniffing hard, so it stays on the lining.
- Use it every day as directed for best results, and keep going even after symptoms improve during the season.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Mometasone (nasal spray)
Advantages
- Effective at controlling the full range of hay fever symptoms, including blockage.
- Very little is absorbed, so it suits long-term use for persistent symptoms.
- Can be used for nasal polyps as well as allergic rhinitis.
Disadvantages
- Takes a few days for full effect, so it is not for instant relief.
- Needs regular daily use to work well.
- Can occasionally cause nasal dryness or nosebleeds, especially with poor technique.
Practical use
Good to know
Mometasone works best when used every day through the allergy season rather than only on bad days, and it can take a few days to reach full effect — so it is worth persevering. To reduce the small risk of nosebleeds, aim the spray slightly away from the central wall (the septum), towards the outer side of each nostril, and avoid sniffing hard. Very little is absorbed into the body, which is why it can be used long-term for persistent symptoms. If your nose is very blocked, a short course of a decongestant first can help the spray reach the lining.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People with an untreated infection in the nose, or recent nasal surgery or injury that has not healed.
- Anyone who has had an allergic reaction to mometasone or the spray's ingredients.
- People should check with a pharmacist or doctor before long-term use in young children, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Monitoring
- Whether nasal symptoms are well controlled with regular use
- Spray technique and any nosebleeds or dryness
- In children, occasional checks of growth with prolonged use
Side effects
- Dryness, irritation or stinging in the nose.
- Nosebleeds, especially if the spray is aimed at the central wall or used with hard sniffing.
- Occasionally a headache or sore throat; effects beyond the nose are uncommon because little is absorbed.
Key interactions
- Few important interactions because very little is absorbed.
- Tell your prescriber if you use other steroids (inhaled, by mouth or on the skin), as the total adds up.
- Certain medicines that strongly affect the liver's enzymes can, rarely, raise steroid levels — mention all your medicines.
Available as: Nasal spray; both over-the-counter and prescription versions are available.
Answers
Mometasone (nasal spray): frequently asked questions
How long does mometasone take to work?
It is not an instant treatment — it can take a few days of regular use to reach its full effect. Using it every day, rather than only on bad days, gives the best control through the season.
How do I avoid nosebleeds?
Aim the spray towards the outer side of each nostril and away from the central wall (the septum), and avoid sniffing hard. Good technique greatly reduces the small risk of nosebleeds that steroid sprays can cause.
Is a steroid nasal spray safe to use for a long time?
For persistent symptoms it can be used long-term because very little is absorbed into the body. As with any medicine, use the smallest amount that controls your symptoms, and check with a pharmacist or doctor if you are using it continuously.
Should I use it instead of a decongestant spray?
For ongoing hay fever or persistent rhinitis, a steroid spray like mometasone is the better long-term choice because decongestant sprays cause rebound congestion if used beyond about a week. A short course of a decongestant can help clear a very blocked nose so the steroid spray reaches the lining.
What is the difference between mometasone and Nasonex?
They are the same medicine — mometasone is the active-ingredient name and Nasonex is a brand of the nasal spray. Both contain the same steroid.
The wider class
About Nasal corticosteroids
Mometasone (nasal spray) belongs to the nasal corticosteroids class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF: Mometasone (nasal).
- NICE CKS: Steroid nasal sprays.
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