Nasonex nasal spray

• Corticosteroid nasal spray
• For allergies, including hay fever
• Also used for nasal polyps
• Not to be used while pregnant or breastfeeding

Nasonex Nasal Spray contains mometasone furoate, one of a group of medicines called corticosteroids. When mometasone furoate is sprayed into the nose, it can help to relieve inflammation (swelling and irritation of the nose). This reduces symptoms such as sneezing and a blocked up or runny nose.

Nasonex is used to:

• Treat the symptoms of hay fever and perennial rhinitis (which is caused by a sensitivity to a variety of things including house dust mite, animal hair or feathers) in adults and children aged six and older.
• Treat nasal polyps in adults.

Read the package leaflet for instructions on how to prepare your nasal spray for use and how to use it. Follow these instructions closely. The general guidelines for use are as follows.

• Gently shake the bottle and remove the dust cap.
• Gently blow your nose.
• Close one nostril and put the nozzle into the other nostril.
• Tilt your head forward slightly, keeping the bottle upright.
• Start to breathe in gently or slowly through your nose. Whilst you are breathing in squirt a spray of fine mist into your nose by pressing down ONCE with your fingers.
• Breathe out through your mouth.
• Repeat the last step to inhale a second spray in the same nostril if applicable.
• Remove the nozzle from this nostril and breathe out through the mouth.
• Repeat steps for the other nostril.
• After using the spray, wipe the nozzle carefully with a clean handkerchief or tissue and replace the dust cap.

It is important to clean your nasal spray regularly according to the instructions in the package leaflet.

Dosage

Dosage varies per person and is determined by a doctor for each specific patient depending on the symptoms. The general guidelines for use are listed below.

Treatment of hay fever and perennial rhinitis:

• Adults and adolescents over 12 years of age: two sprays into each nostril once a day. Once your symptoms are under control, your doctor may advise you to decrease the dose to one spray in each nostril.

If you do not start to feel any better, you should see your doctor. Your doctor may tell you to increase the dose (the maximum daily dose is four sprays into each nostril once a day). Once your symptoms are under control, your doctor may advise you to decrease the dose to two sprays in each nostril.

• Children aged 6 to 11 years: one spray into each nostril once a day.

When used at high doses for long periods of time, corticosteroid nasal sprays may cause certain side effects, such as slowed growth rate in children. It is recommended that the height of children receiving long-term treatment with nasal corticosteroids is regularly monitored and if any changes are noted, their doctor should be notified.

If you or your child suffer badly from hay fever, your doctor may tell you to start using Nasonex two to four weeks before the start of the pollen season, as this will help to prevent your hay fever symptoms from occurring. If your eyes are itching or irritated, your doctor may recommend that you use other treatments with Nasonex. By the end of pollen season your symptoms should have decreased. Treatment should no longer be necessary.

Nasal polyps:

• Adults:two sprays in each nostril once a day.

If symptoms are not controlled after five to six weeks, the dose may be increased to two sprays in each nostril twice daily. Once symptoms are under control, your doctor may advise you to decrease your dose. If no improvement in symptoms is seen after five to six weeks of twice daily administration, you should contact your doctor.

Alcohol/driving

There is no known information on the effect of Nasonex on the ability to drive or use machinery.

If you use too much/forget to use/stop using Nasonex

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you accidentally use more than you were told.

If you forget to use your nasal spray at the right time, use it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

Full benefit of treatment may not be seen for up to two days. It is very important that you use your nasal spray regularly. Do not stop using Nasonex without consulting a doctor first.

Nasonex is not suitable for everyone. Do not use this medicine if:

• You are allergic (hypersensitive) to mometasone furoate or any other ingredient in Nasonex (see section ‘What Nasonex contains’).
• You have an untreated infection in your nose. You should wait until the infection is resolved before you start using the nasal spray.
• You have recently had an operation on your nose or you have injured your nose. You should not use the nasal spray until your nose has healed.

When should this medicine be used with caution?

Talk to you doctor before using the Nasonex if:

• You have or have ever had tuberculosis.
• You have an infection of the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus.
• You have any other infection.
• You are taking other corticosteroid medicines, either by mouth or by injection.
• You have cystic fibrosis.

Note: You should avoid coming into contact with anyone who has measles or chickenpox while using Nasonex. Talk to your doctor if you come into contact with anyone who has these infections.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Other medicines and Nasonex

Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription and herbal medicines.

If you are taking other corticosteroid medicines for allergy, your doctor may advise you to stop taking them once you begin using Nasonex. Some people may find that once they discontinue corticosteroids they suffer from some undesirable effects, such as joint or muscular pain, weakness and depression. If you develop any of these effects, you should contact your doctor. You may also experience allergy symptoms, such as itchy, watering eyes or patches of red skin. If you are worried contact your doctor for advice.

Medicines can cause side effects, although some people may not experience any.

In rare cases, immediate hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions may occur after use of this product. These reactions may be severe. You should stop taking Nasonex and get immediate medical help if you experience symptoms such as wheezing or breathing difficulties.

In very rare cases treatment with a corticosteroid-based nasal spray may cause an increase in pressure in the eye (glaucoma) causing visual disturbances, and damage to the partition in the nose which separates the nostrils. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these side effects.

Other side effects that are known to be associated with Nasonex include:

• Headache.
• Sneezing.
• Nose bleeds.
• Sore nose or throat.
• Changes in taste and smell (rare).
• Growth retardation in children (when used long term). It is recommended that the height of children receiving long-term treatment with nasal corticosteroids is regularly monitored.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects are severe or persistent, or if you get any side effects that are not listed in the package leaflet.

The active substance is mometasone furoate. Each spray contains 50 micrograms mometasone furoate, as monohydrate.

The other ingredients are: dispersible cellulose, glycerol, sodium citrate, citric acid monohydrate, polysorbate 80, benzalkonium chloride, purified water.

The manufacturer of Nasonex is:

NV Schering-Plough Labo Industriepark 30
B-2220 Heist-op-den-Berg
Belgium

Read the package leaflet before use. The official package leaflet of Nasonex is available for download here.