A steroid nasal spray (also a skin cream)
Mometasone
A steroid nasal spray that controls hay fever and other nasal allergy symptoms when used regularly.
What is Mometasone?
Mometasone is a corticosteroid most familiar as a nasal spray for hay fever and other forms of allergic rhinitis. It calms inflammation in the lining of the nose to relieve sneezing, itching, a runny or blocked nose, and is also available as a skin preparation and inhaler.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Mometasone — 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 is a corticosteroid most familiar as a nasal spray for hay fever and other forms of allergic rhinitis (an allergic, inflamed, runny or blocked nose). Common brands include Nasonex and the pharmacy product Clarinaze. By calming inflammation in the lining of the nose, it relieves sneezing, itching, a runny nose and congestion, and can help associated itchy or watery eyes. It is a preventer-type treatment that works best taken regularly through the allergy season rather than only when symptoms flare. Mometasone is also made as a stronger skin cream and ointment (often under the brand Elocon) for inflammatory skin conditions — a different product entirely, not interchangeable with the nasal spray.
How it works
Mometasone is a corticosteroid that switches down the inflammation driving allergy symptoms. Sprayed onto the lining of the nose, it reduces the swelling, mucus and irritation that cause a blocked, runny, itchy or sneezy nose. Because it acts where it is sprayed and very little is absorbed into the body, it controls nasal allergy with minimal effect elsewhere — but this also means it needs a little time and regular use to build up its full effect.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Schering-Plough (now part of Merck & Co.).
Mometasone furoate was developed by Schering-Plough in the United States and reached the market in the late 1980s as a topical corticosteroid, with the nasal spray Nasonex approved by the FDA in 1997.
What it treats
Conditions Mometasone is used for
Practical use
How to take Mometasone
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Use the nasal spray regularly, every day during the allergy season, rather than only when symptoms flare — it works best built up over days.
- Blow your nose gently first, then aim the spray slightly away from the central wall of the nose to reduce irritation and nosebleeds.
- Breathe in gently as you spray and avoid sniffing hard, which sends it down the throat.
- For the inhaled form, use the correct technique and rinse your mouth afterwards to reduce the risk of oral thrush.
- Skin preparations are applied thinly to the affected area as directed and not used long term on the face without advice.
- Tell your clinician if symptoms do not improve after regular use.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Mometasone
Advantages
- Effectively controls allergic rhinitis symptoms with regular use.
- Acts mainly at the site applied with little absorbed into the body.
- Available as a nasal spray without prescription for hay fever.
- Once-daily nasal use is convenient.
Disadvantages
- Can cause nasal dryness, irritation, an unpleasant taste or occasional nosebleeds.
- Needs regular, ongoing use to keep symptoms controlled.
- Poor technique reduces benefit and increases side effects.
- Inhaled use can cause oral thrush or a hoarse voice if the mouth is not rinsed.
Practical use
Good to know
It works best used regularly, ideally started a little before your usual allergy season and continued through it, rather than only on bad days — the full benefit builds up over days rather than working instantly. Good technique matters: gently clear the nose first, then aim the spray slightly outwards towards the side of the nostril and away from the central wall (the septum), which improves results and reduces the chance of nosebleeds and irritation. Very little is absorbed, so body-wide steroid effects are unlikely at normal use. Remember the skin cream version (Elocon) is a separate medicine and must not be used in the nose.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People with an untreated infection in the nose, or recent nasal surgery or injury, until healed.
- Used with care in people with frequent nosebleeds, and the lowest effective amount is used in children, with growth occasionally monitored on prolonged use.
- People with tuberculosis or certain other infections, or recent eye conditions such as glaucoma or cataract, should mention this before use.
Monitoring
- No routine blood tests for ordinary use
- Spray technique and whether symptoms are well controlled
- In children, growth is occasionally checked with prolonged use
Side effects
- Nasal dryness, irritation, sneezing after spraying, or a sore throat.
- Nosebleeds or a crusting feeling, especially if the spray is aimed at the central wall of the nose.
- Rarely, a sore or whitened area inside the nose; very rarely, eye effects on prolonged use — report persistent problems.
Key interactions
- Very few, because little is absorbed; particular care is needed if combined with certain strong medicines (such as some HIV medicines) that can raise steroid levels.
- Generally safe to use alongside antihistamine tablets or sprays, which are often combined for better hay-fever control.
- Tell your prescriber if you also use steroids for other conditions (inhaled, skin, tablets or eye drops), so the overall steroid load can be considered.
Available as: A nasal spray. (Mometasone is also made as a separate skin cream and ointment — a different product not used in the nose.)
Answers
Mometasone: frequently asked questions
How long before mometasone nasal spray works?
It is not an instant treatment — it works by reducing inflammation, so the full effect builds up over a few days of regular use. It is most effective when used consistently, ideally starting shortly before your usual allergy season, rather than only on days when symptoms are bad.
How do I use the spray correctly?
Gently clear your nose first, then point the nozzle slightly outwards towards the side of your nostril, away from the central dividing wall (the septum), and breathe in gently as you spray. Aiming away from the septum improves how well it works and helps avoid nosebleeds and irritation.
Is a steroid nasal spray safe to use long-term?
For most people, yes. Only a tiny amount is absorbed into the body, so the steroid acts mainly in the nose with little effect elsewhere. It is widely used through allergy seasons; with good technique the main local effects are occasional dryness or nosebleeds. In children on prolonged use, growth is sometimes monitored as a precaution.
Can I use my mometasone nasal spray on my skin, or my skin cream in my nose?
No. The nasal spray and the skin cream (often branded Elocon) are different products designed for different sites and are not interchangeable. Using one in the wrong place could be ineffective or cause harm — always use the specific product prescribed for that area.
What is the difference between mometasone, Nasonex and Clarinaze?
They contain the same active ingredient — mometasone is the generic name, while Nasonex and Clarinaze are brand names of the nasal spray. The active medicine is the same; the main differences are branding and whether it is prescribed or bought from a pharmacy.
The wider class
About Nasal corticosteroids
Mometasone belongs to the nasal corticosteroids class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
Browse by body system
Authoritative sources
- BNF: Mometasone furoate.
- electronic Medicines Compendium (SmPC): Nasonex Nasal Spray.
- NICE CKS: Steroid nasal sprays; Allergic rhinitis.
Building a medicines information resource?
We create evidence-led, dose-free drug and formulary references for teams.