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ciclesonide vs mometasone

Side-by-side comparison of ciclesonide and mometasone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
ciclesonide Inhaled Corticosteroid
mometasone Inhaled Corticosteroid
Type
ciclesonide Prescription
mometasone Prescription
Summary
ciclesonide

Omnaris Nasal Spray is a medicine that helps treat nasal allergy symptoms. It contains a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation in your nose.

mometasone

Mometasone cream is a medicine that reduces skin inflammation and itching. It belongs to a class of drugs called corticosteroids.

What It Treats
ciclesonide

Omnaris Nasal Spray treats nasal symptoms from seasonal allergies in adults and kids 6 years and older. It also treats year-round allergy symptoms in adults and teens 12 years and older. It helps relieve stuffy nose, runny nose, and sneezing.

mometasone

This cream treats skin problems that cause inflammation and itching. It can be used for skin conditions that respond to corticosteroids. It is for use on people 2 years and older.

How It Works
ciclesonide

Omnaris contains ciclesonide, a corticosteroid. It works by reducing inflammation in your nasal passages. This helps to relieve allergy symptoms like congestion and runny nose.

mometasone

Mometasone is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation. It works by reducing the chemicals in the body that cause swelling and itching. This helps to relieve skin irritation.

Common Side Effects
ciclesonide
  • Headache
  • Nosebleeds
  • Common cold
  • Ear pain
  • Throat pain
mometasone
  • Burning
  • Itching
  • Skin thinning
FAERS Reports
ciclesonide
  • Asthma 5,711
  • Shortness of breath 4,479
  • Wheezing 3,589
  • Medicine not fully working 2,550
  • Cough 2,484
mometasone
  • Difficulty breathing 1,730
  • Asthma 1,553
  • Medicine not working 1,477
  • Headache 1,394
  • Cough 1,178
Serious Warnings
ciclesonide

Omnaris may cause nosebleeds or Candida (fungal) infections in the nose. It could cause a hole in the nasal septum, or slow wound healing. It may also increase the risk of glaucoma or cataracts. Tell your doctor if you have vision changes or a history of eye problems. Omnaris may worsen existing infections like tuberculosis, herpes, or chickenpox. High doses can cause hormone and adrenal problems. It may slow down growth in children, so growth should be monitored.

mometasone

Using too much mometasone cream, using it for a long time, or covering large areas of skin can increase the risk of side effects. This can cause your body to stop making enough of its own natural steroid hormones. Children are more likely to get these side effects. This medicine may also increase your risk of cataracts and glaucoma. Tell your doctor if you have blurred vision.

Pregnancy
ciclesonide

There is not enough information about Omnaris use in pregnant women. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Omnaris passes into breast milk.

mometasone

If you are pregnant, use mometasone cream only if your doctor says it is okay. There may be risks to the baby. It is not known if mometasone passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before using it if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

Compare ciclesonide with

Compare mometasone with

How to Read This ciclesonide vs mometasone Comparison

ciclesonide is classified in the Inhaled Corticosteroid drug class, while mometasone sits within the Inhaled Corticosteroid class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, ciclesonide has 18,813 submissions while mometasone has 7,332. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between ciclesonide and mometasone — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.