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Mometasone Furoate

Mometasone furoate is a corticosteroid demonstrating potent anti-inflammatory properties, delivered as a nasal spray. According to the US prescribing information for Nasonex Nasal Spray, it is indicated for the nasal symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis in adults and children aged 2 years and older, and for relief of the nasal congestion associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis. It is also indicated for the treatment of nasal polyps in adults aged 18 years and older.

Nasonex Nasal Spray

Allergic Rhinitis, Nasal Polyps

18g

Developed to mitigate nasal allergic congestion to support clear breathing passages and target mucosal swelling.

From$53.50/ sprayView

Dulera

Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

6mсg + 200mсg

Designed to support open airway structures to manage asthma episodes and alleviate severe breathing spasms.

From$68.17/ inhalerView

Elocon

Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis

1mg 5g

Formulated to alleviate local skin inflammation to support epidermal healing and target dermal irritation.

From$33.30/ tubeView

Melacare Forte Cream

Melasma

4% + 0.025% + 0.1% 25gm

Utilised to manage facial hyperpigmentation to alleviate melasma and support clear epidermal skin color levels.

From$68.50/ tubeView

Key points

  • As a nasal spray, mometasone furoate reaches a systemic bioavailability of less than 1% in plasma, measured with an assay sensitive to 0.25 pg/ml.
  • Mometasone furoate’s metabolite formation in human liver microsomes is regulated by cytochrome P-450 3A4 (CYP3A4), and coadministration with ketoconazole, a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor, may increase its plasma concentrations.

How it works

Mometasone furoate is a topical glucocorticosteroid with local anti-inflammatory properties at doses that are not systemically active, according to its UK Summary of Product Characteristics. It is likely that much of its anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effect lies in its ability to inhibit the release of mediators of allergic reactions: mometasone furoate significantly inhibits the release of leukotrienes from the leucocytes of allergic patients, and in cell culture it has demonstrated high potency in inhibiting the synthesis and release of IL-1, IL-5, IL-6 and TNFα, as well as of the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 from human CD4+ T-cells.

Safety specific to Mometasone Furoate

Corticosteroids may cause a reduction in growth velocity when given to children, so growth should be monitored routinely in children using mometasone furoate. Systemic corticosteroid effects such as hypercorticism and adrenal suppression may appear when intranasal steroids are used at higher than recommended dosages, or in susceptible individuals even at the recommended dosage; systemic effects of nasal corticosteroids may occur, particularly at high doses used for prolonged periods. Because corticosteroids suppress the immune system, people taking them are more susceptible to infections than healthy individuals: chickenpox and measles, for example, can take a more serious or even fatal course in non-immune children or adults on corticosteroids, so anyone who has not had these diseases should take particular care to avoid exposure.

When to seek urgent care

Hypersensitivity reactions, including wheezing, may occur after using mometasone furoate nasal spray; stop using it and seek medical attention if such a reaction occurs. Visual disturbance may also be reported with corticosteroid use, including intranasal use: anyone who develops blurred vision or other visual disturbances should be considered for referral to an ophthalmologist, since possible causes include cataract, glaucoma or rare conditions such as central serous chorioretinopathy.

Further reading

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