mometasone
Meaning of mometasone: Three delivery routes, one purpose: putting a steroid exactly where the inflammation is so the rest of the body sees very little of it.
Definition of mometasone
Mometasone is a synthetic corticosteroid that damps down inflammation and an overactive local immune response in the tissue it is applied to. It is supplied as a skin cream or ointment, as a nasal spray for allergy symptoms, and as an inhaled powder or aerosol for asthma. Each form is built to act where it lands rather than throughout the body.
What is each form used for?
Mometasone is a corticosteroid, a manufactured relative of the hormone cortisol, and every form works the same way. It switches off part of the inflammatory program running inside cells, so redness, swelling, mucus and itch all subside. What changes between the forms is where that effect is delivered and how much of the drug ever reaches the rest of the body.
| Form | What it is used for |
|---|---|
| Cream, ointment or lotion | Inflammatory skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis |
| Nasal spray | Allergic swelling of the lining of the nose and sinuses, and nasal polyps |
| Inhaled powder or aerosol | Long term control of asthma, taken regularly rather than for a sudden attack |
Why does the delivery route matter so much?
A steroid tablet reaches every tissue, so it settles inflammation anywhere but also acts on bone, blood sugar, mood and the body's own cortisol production. Mometasone applied to skin, nose or airway concentrates in the tissue that needs it, and the small amount absorbed is largely broken down by the liver before it can circulate. That is why a preparation strong enough to settle stubborn eczema causes far less trouble elsewhere than the same strength of steroid swallowed. Topical steroids are ranked by potency, and mometasone sits in the middle to upper part of that range, which is why thin skin on the face, the eyelids and the body folds, where absorption is greater, is treated differently from thick skin on the trunk and limbs.
What can go wrong with prolonged use?
The problems are mostly local and follow the site. Long or repeated application to skin thins it, makes small vessels visible, can produce stretch marks, and may let an unrecognized fungal or bacterial infection spread by quieting the inflammation that would otherwise flag it. The nasal spray commonly causes dryness, crusting and nosebleeds. An inhaled corticosteroid can leave a hoarse voice and allow thrush to grow in the mouth where the powder settles. Absorption into the bloodstream stays small with ordinary use but rises when a potent steroid is applied to large areas, to broken skin, or under a dressing that traps it against the surface.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Mometasone nasal spray was recommended for the patient's seasonal allergy symptoms.
Good to know
Mometasone's local, topical action distinguishes it from oral corticosteroids such as prednisone, which affect the entire body rather than only the site of application.