Prescription medication · Inhaled Corticosteroid
mometasone
Also sold as Asmanex. This cream treats skin problems that cause inflammation and itching.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 17,186
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 3
- InteractionsFew interactions
- $0.28
- Generic price (NADAC)
What the data shows
mometasone (Asmanex) is a prescription Inhaled Corticosteroid, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (17,186 FDA reports), with 3 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
mometasone (Asmanex) is a prescription Inhaled Corticosteroid. This cream treats skin problems that cause inflammation and itching.
Mometasone cream is a medicine that reduces skin inflammation and itching. It belongs to a class of drugs called corticosteroids.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.28/unit
Generic Available
Yes (16 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This cream treats skin problems that cause inflammation and itching.
Common side effects
Burning, Itching, Skin thinning
Key warnings
Using too much mometasone cream, using it for a long time, or covering large areas of skin can increase the risk of side effects.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from mometasone's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Apply a thin layer of mometasone cream to the affected skin once a day. Stop using it when your skin problem is under control. If your skin does not get better after 2 weeks, talk to your doctor. Do not cover the treated area with airtight dressings unless your doctor tells you to.
This is a plain-language summary of mometasone's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
This is a plain-language summary of mometasone's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
Apply the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of mometasone's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store mometasone cream at room temperature, away from excessive heat.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 17,186 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for mometasone, by number of reports
- Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing
1,730 reports
- Asthma
Asthma
1,553 reports
- Headache
Headache
1,394 reports
- Cough
Cough
1,178 reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
1,098 reports
- Wheezing
Wheezing
966 reports
- Acid reflux
Acid reflux
965 reports
- Itching
Itching
905 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
892 reports
- Pain
Pain
818 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for mometasone each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where mometasone sits
mometasone has more FDA adverse-event reports than 51% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is mometasone; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 17,186 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
17,186
Reports Mentioning Death
814
4.7% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
5,350
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DYSPNOEA | 1,730 |
| 2 | ASTHMA | 1,553 |
| 4 | HEADACHE | 1,393 |
| 5 | COUGH | 1,178 |
| 6 | FATIGUE | 1,098 |
| 8 | WHEEZING | 966 |
| 9 | GASTROOESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE | 965 |
| 10 | PRURITUS | 905 |
| 11 | NAUSEA | 892 |
| 12 | PAIN | 818 |
| 13 | PNEUMONIA | 804 |
| 14 | RASH | 761 |
| 15 | THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT INCOMPLETE | 740 |
| 16 | DIARRHOEA | 720 |
| 17 | DIZZINESS | 685 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
betamethasone budesonide ciclesonide fluticasone methylprednisolone mometasone triamcinolone ↑ corticosteroids Co-administration with corticosteroids (all routes of administration) of which exposures are significantly increased by strong CYP3A inhibitors can increase the risk for Cushing's syndrome and adrenal suppression.
Mechanism: Darunavir slows down how fast your body gets rid of mometasone, which can cause the steroid to reach dangerously high levels.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you for signs of too much steroid in your body or consider using a different medicine.
Corticosteroids primarily metabolized by CYP3A betamethasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone, methylprednisolone, mometasone, triamcinolone ↑ corticosteroid Co-administration with corticosteroids (all routes of administration) of which exposures are significantly increased by strong CYP3A inhibitors can increase the risk for Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal suppression.
Mechanism: Ritonavir stops your body from clearing out mometasone, which can lead to high steroid levels and cause serious hormonal imbalances.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about the risks, as this combination can cause your body to stop making its own natural hormones.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS No drug-drug interaction studies have been conducted with mometasone furoate cream.
Mechanism: There have been no specific studies done to see how these two forms of the same medicine interact with each other.
What to do: Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using multiple products with the same active ingredient to prevent using too much.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What should I avoid while using mometasone cream?
Can I use bandages with this cream?
What if my skin gets irritated?
How long should I use this cream?
Can children use this cream?
What are the signs of skin thinning?
What should I do if I think I have side effects?
Can this cream interact with other medicines?
What does 'topical' mean?
What should I do if I accidentally swallow the cream?
What are the common side effects of mometasone?
Does mometasone interact with other medications?
What drug class is mometasone?
Is mometasone safe during pregnancy?
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for mometasone
The FDA label for mometasone (sold under brand names such as Asmanex) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Inhaled Corticosteroid class. This cream treats skin problems that cause inflammation and itching. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Burning, Itching, Skin thinning.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 17,186 voluntary reports. The database also lists 3 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.28.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: July 9, 2019
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages