Mometasone Furoate (Nasonex) Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Mometasone furoate can cause or worsen health problems in some people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatment options for your condition if you are at increased risk of complications from this medicine. Some of the risks of using mometasone furoate include:

• LOCAL EFFECTS IN THE NOSE: During placebo-controlled clinical trials, epistaxis (nosebleeds) were reported in patients using Nasonex nasal spray more than the control group. 

  In addition, use of mometasone furoate can increase the risk of localized fungal infections with Candida albicans. Stop using mometasone furoate and call your doctor if you develop red or white patches in the mouth (oral thrush).

  There are also reports of nasal septum perforation (torn cartilage between the two nostrils) with the use of intranasal corticosteroids. Do not use mometasone furoate for longer than prescribed. 

  In addition, the use of corticosteroids can delay wound healing after nasal surgery, trauma, or in people with nasal septum ulcers. Your doctor will tell you to avoid using a corticosteroid nasal spray until you are fully healed.

• EYE PROBLEMS: Nasal and inhaled corticosteroids can increase the risk of glaucoma and/or cataracts. Before starting treatment with Nasonex (mometasone furoate), tell your doctor if you have a history of eye conditions. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop any changes in vision. 

• ALLERGIC REACTIONS: Rarely, hypersensitivity reactions can occur after using mometasone furoate. Stop using mometasone furoate and seek emergency medical attention if you develop a skin rash, hives, itching, wheezing, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.

• IMMUNOSUPPRESSION: Mometasone furoate and other corticosteroids can suppress the immune system and increase the risk of infections. Infections such as chickenpox and measles may have a more severe and even fatal course in people being treated with corticosteroids. Corticosteroids should be used with caution in people with quiescent tuberculosis, ocular herpes simplex, or any untreated fungal, viral, or bacterial infections. 

  While using mometasone furoate, avoid exposure to people who are sick with chickenpox or measles, especially if you have not had these infections in the past or are not vaccinated. Seek immediate medical care if you are exposed to chickenpox or measles. Your healthcare provider may recommend prophylaxis (preventive treatment) with varicella zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) for chickenpox or pooled intramuscular immunoglobulin for measles.

• HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL (HPA) AXIS SUPPRESSION: Using intranasal corticosteroids at higher than recommended doses (or recommended doses in certain susceptible individuals) can increase the risk of hypercorticism (high cortisol hormone levels) and adrenal suppression or insufficiency (Cushing’s syndrome). Call your doctor immediately if you develop signs and symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, or weight loss.

• SLOWED GROWTH IN CHILDREN: Corticosteroids can slow the growth rate in pediatric patients. Your child’s doctor will monitor your child’s growth during treatment with mometasone furoate. They will prescribe the lowest dose for the shortest duration to control your child’s symptoms to lower this risk.