ratio-mometasone: what is it, how to use, side effects

how does this medication work? what will it do for me?

mometasone belongs to the class of medications called topical corticosteroids. it is used to reduce the symptoms of skin rashes associated with conditions such as psoriasis and allergic eczema. it works by reducing inflammation, itching, and irritation of the skin.

this medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. as well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. if you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. it can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

what form(s) does this medication come in?

how should i use this medication?

cream/ointment: apply a thin film to the affected skin areas once daily.

lotion: apply a few drops of the lotion to the affected skin areas (including scalp sites) once daily. massage gently and thoroughly until the medication disappears.

do not allow this product to get in your eyes. severe irritation is possible if it contacts the eye. should this occur, flush your eye immediately with a large amount of water.

do not use an occlusive dressing (made of airtight material) to cover areas where this medication has been applied.

mometasone should be used for a maximum of 5 days on the face, scalp, skin-fold areas, and groin; it should be used for a maximum of 3 weeks on the body.

many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. if your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are using the medication without consulting your doctor.

it is important that this medication be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor. if you miss a dose, use it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. do not apply a double dose to make up for a missed one. if you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

store this medication at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children.

do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

who should not take this medication?

do not use mometasone if you:

• are allergic to mometasone or any ingredients of this medication
• are allergic to other corticosteroids
• are using dressings that don't allow air flow
• have untreated bacterial, tubercular, fungal, parasitic, or viral infections involving the skin (including herpes simplex, skin rash resulting from vaccination, and chickenpox)

mometasone should not be used to treat:

• acne vulgaris
• rosacea
• itchy skin which is not inflamed

what side effects are possible with this medication?

many medications can cause side effects. a side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

the side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. if you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

the following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• burning and itching of skin (without other symptoms of a skin infection; see below)
• inflammation of hair follicles
• skin colour changes
• thinning skin, with easy bruising
• tingling and stinging of affected areas

although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.

check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• acne-like reaction
• increased size of skin rash
• infected, hard sores (furunculosis)
• symptoms of a skin infection (such as warmth, redness, swelling, itching, or pus)
• worsening or aggravation of a skin condition

the following side effects may occur if this medication is used improperly or for a long time:

• blurring or loss of vision (occurs gradually if certain products have been used near the eye)
• filling or rounding out of the face
• increased blood pressure
• irritation of skin around mouth
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• rapid weight gain or loss
• reddish-purple lines (stretch marks) on arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin
• signs of high blood sugar (e.g., frequent urination, increased thirst, excessive eating, unexplained weight loss, poor wound healing, infections, fruity breath odour)
• skin colour changes
• weakening of bones
• worsening of infections

stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• blurred vision, eye pain, or increased eye pressure
• symptoms of an allergic reaction (chills, fever, muscle aches, or flu-like symptoms that happen before or with a skin rash)
• symptoms of high levels of corticosteroids in the blood stream (darkening of the skin, fatigue, low blood pressure, diarrhea, and digestive problems)

some people may experience side effects other than those listed. check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?

before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. these factors may affect how you should use this medication.

diabetes: when mometasone is used over large areas of the body for prolonged periods or under dressings that don't breathe it is possible that enough medication will absorb into the bloodstream to affect blood sugar levels. if you have diabetes, your doctor should closely monitor your condition while you are using mometasone, as it may affect blood sugar control.

eyes: use this medication with care on lesions close to the eye. getting the medication in the eye can increase the risk of increased eye pressure, glaucoma, or cataracts. report any changes in vision or eye pain to your doctor.

infections: topical (skin-applied) corticosteroids may increase the risk of developing a skin infection. mometasone should not be used on any infected area until the infection has cleared. if you notice symptoms of a skin infection such as redness, warmth, itching, pus, or swelling, contact your doctor.

internal absorption: medications containing topical (applied to the skin) corticosteroids such as mometasone can be absorbed into the bloodstream if used for prolonged periods of time on large areas of the body. this medication should not be covered with an airtight bandage that does not breathe.

medical treatment: inform all medical professionals that you see that you have been using topical (skin-applied) corticosteroids.

poor circulation: if you have poor blood circulation, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication.

prolonged use: using topical corticosteroid medication for a long period of time can cause skin to thin or soften or cause stretch marks. talk to your doctor about how long you should use this medication.

thinning of skin: prolonged use of topical corticosteroid products may produce thinning of the skin and tissues under it. if you notice this effect, contact your doctor.

pregnancy: this medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. if you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

breast-feeding: it is not known if mometasone passes into breast milk. if you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

children: children may be more likely to experience side effects from this medication. the risk of side effects increases when large body areas are treated, when treatment lasts for a long time, and when dressings that don't breathe are used. in these situations, side effects similar to those caused by oral corticosteroids (e.g., growth suppression) may occur. mometasone is not recommended for use in children less than 18 years of age.

what other drugs could interact with this medication?

there may be an interaction between mometasone and any of the following:

• aldesleukin
• "azole" antifungal medications (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole)
• clarithromycin
• cobicistat
• hiv protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, darunavir, ritonavir)
• mifepristone
• protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., ceritinib, idelalisib, tucatinib)
• other topical medications that have irritating effects (e.g., retinoic acid, salicylic acid)
• other topical (skin-applied) medications that contain corticosteroids (e.g., hydrocortisone)

if you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

an interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. also tell them about any supplements you take. since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

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