Reviewed by Virginia Chachati MPharm
(2013, University College London)
GPhC Registration number: 2087654
Information last reviewed 11/02/21
Nasonex is a nasal spray used to relieve hay fever, nasal blockage, and nasal polyps. It contains a type of steroid called a corticosteroid to help reduce inflammation and unblock your nose.
Nasonex works by reducing the swelling and inflammation in the nose caused by coming into contact with allergens such as pollen, dust mites or animal fur. It also helps unblock your nose and reduce sneezing.
You should start to see an improvement in your symptoms after twelve hours of using Nasonex, but it can take up to two days to have a full effect.
Always follow the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist on how to use Nasonex. Your doctor will advise you on how long you should use Nasonex for. Once your symptoms are under control, see your doctor to discuss reducing your dose.
Nasonex contains Mometasone, which is a type of corticosteroid. Your body naturally produces anti-inflammatory corticosteroids. These are different from anabolic steroids like testosterone.
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen released into the air by grass, trees and plants. These small pollen particles come into contact with your eyes, mouth and nose. When this happens, your immune system reacts to the pollen by releasing chemicals, such as histamine, which causes hay fever symptoms. You are more likely to have hay fever if:
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. You can develop hay fever at any age. If you have asthma or any other allergies, you will be more likely to suffer from hay fever. Hay fever can feel worse when it is high pollen season, if it’s windy or if you spend a lot of time outdoors.
Hay fever can make it more difficult to breathe or trigger shortness of breath in people who have asthma. If this affects you, get advice from your doctor. Your doctor may need to review your preventer inhaler’s dose, prescribe an emergency inhaler, or offer medicines to help control your hay fever.
There are steps you can take to prevent hay fever. The main goal is to reduce the amount of pollen you are exposed to. Here are some easy tips you can try:
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen and is more likely to happen during high pollen season (spring and summer). A virus causes the common cold, and you can catch a cold at any time of year. With a cold, you may have a sore throat, a cough, body aches or a high body temperature (fever) which you don’t typically experience with hay fever.
Before you use Nasonex, you'll need to prepare the bottle. First, shake the bottle gently. Then remove the protector cap. Hold the bottle firmly and press the pump ten times. After you get a fine mist, wipe the nozzle and put the protector cap back on.
When you're ready to use Nasonex, shake the bottle and remove the protector cap. Blow your nose and then use your finger to close one nostril. In your open nostril, put the Nasonex nozzle. Tilt your head forward slightly and press down on the pump to release one spray, try to breathe in at the same time. Breathe out through your mouth and then repeat the process if you need to use another spray.
For adults and children over 12 years old, use two sprays in each nostril once a day. For children between 3 years old and 11 years old, use one spray in each nostril once a day.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you use too much Nasonex.
If you forget to use Nasonex, do not take a dose to replace the missed dose. Wait until your next dose and take it as prescribed by your doctor.
Possible Nasonex side effects include:
Seek emergency help from a healthcare professional if you experience any of these signs of an allergic reaction:
Do not use Nasonex if:
Before using Nasonex, tell your doctor if any of the following apply to you:
Before using Nasonex, tell your doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines you are taking.
Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before using Nasonex with another medicine like an antihistamine.
Speak to your doctor for advice before using Nasonex if you are planning to have a baby or if you are pregnant.
Speak to your doctor for advice before using Nasonex if you are breastfeeding.
Nasonex can treat hay fever, nasal blockage or nasal polyps but is not recommended to treat a cold. If you feel your cold is not getting better, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
There are nasal sprays, eye drops and tablets available over the counter at a pharmacy to help treat hay fever. The medicines include antihistamines and corticosteroids. If over the counter medicines are not effective, or your hay fever symptoms become worse, speak to your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe Nasonex or different medicine to help treat your hay fever. Allergen-specific immunotherapy may be an option if prescription medicines are not effective.
Nasonex contains a corticosteroid called mometasone furoate, and Rhinocort contains a corticosteroid called budesonide. Corticosteroids reduce nasal inflammation. Nasonex and Rhinocort are each used at different doses to treat hay fever and nasal polyps.
Nasonex contains mometasone furoate, which is a different type of corticosteroid than in Flixonase. Flixonase contains the corticosteroid fluticasone propionate. They are both nasal sprays and help reduce inflammation to ease hay fever symptoms. Nasonex and Flixonase are both prescription-only medicines but are used at different doses. In the UK, their over the counter equivalents are Pirinase (fluticasone propionate) and Clarinaze (mometasone furoate) but are only available for people who are over 18 years old.
Ask your pharmacist for advice on how you can treat hay fever with over the counter medicines such as antihistamine tablets, corticosteroid nasal sprays and antihistamine eye drops. Before you leave home, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) to the inside of your nostrils to catch the pollen and stop it from entering your airways. To avoid hay fever, stay indoors when the pollen count is high on the weather forecast. Also, change your clothes, have a shower and wash your hair after being outdoors.
Nasonex is only available on prescription and cannot be purchased over the counter at a pharmacy. However, Clarinaze is a nasal spray which also contains mometasone furoate and is available over the counter at a pharmacy, but only for people who are over 18 years old.
Hay fever season often starts in spring, continues throughout summer and tails off in autumn. The pollen count is high during these times of the year as trees, plants and grasses release their pollen into the air. Pollen is an allergen that causes hay fever.
The active ingredient in Nasonex is mometasone furoate.
The other ingredients include dispersible cellulose, glycerol, sodium citrate, citric acid monohydrate, polysorbate 80, benzalkonium chloride, purified water.
A severe allergic reaction to this medication is rare unless you are specifically allergic to any of the active or inactive ingredients in the spray. Facial/throat swelling, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, a rash, and dizziness are signs of a severe allergic reaction, so get immediate medical attention if you notice these symptoms.
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