Skip to main content
HomeDrug Comparisons
Drug bottle and Pill

Compare Flovent vs. Nasonex

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Flovent (fluticasone) and Nasonex (mometasone) are both corticosteroids, but they are used for different conditions and administered differently. Flovent is an inhaled medication used to manage asthma by reducing lung inflammation and keeping airways open. It is available only by prescription and comes in two forms: Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus. You need to use it twice a day, and it is not suitable for treating sudden asthma attacks. On the other hand, Nasonex is a nasal spray used to treat and prevent allergy symptoms and nasal polyps. It is available both over-the-counter and by prescription. Nasonex is typically used once a day and can be used by children as young as 2 years old for allergy symptoms. While both medications can cause side effects like headaches and infections, Flovent may also lead to oral thrush if you don't rinse your mouth after use, and Nasonex can cause nosebleeds and nasal injuries with long-term use.

  • Flovent (fluticasone)
    Mometasone nasal spray
  • Flovent (fluticasone)
    Mometasone nasal spray

  • Summary of Flovent vs. Nasonex

    Summary for Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)
    Prescription only

    Flovent (fluticasone) is an inhaled corticosteroid medication used in people 4 years and older with asthma. It helps keep lung inflammation low and the airways open. This inhaler is used twice per day. When used every day, Flovent (fluticasone) can lower the number and severity of asthma attacks. It's not a rescue inhaler, so it won't help an asthma attack that has already started.

    Summary for Corticosteroid

    Mometasone nasal spray is used to prevent the nose symptoms of seasonal allergies, as well as to treat nose and sinus inflammation in adults with nasal polyps. Some side effects this medication can cause include headache and bloody nose. Mometasone nasal spray is available both with a prescription and over the counter (OTC).

  • Indications of Flovent vs. Nasonex

    Indications for
    •Maintenance treatment of asthma
    Indications for
    •Temporary relief of allergy symptoms (e.g., stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose) (OTC only)
    •Prevention of seasonal allergies (prescription only)
    •Treatment of long-term nose and sinus inflammation with nasal polyps (prescription only)

  • Pros and Cons of Flovent vs. Nasonex

    Pros and Const for Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)
    Pros
    •Works well to prevent and lower asthma symptoms
    •Has few side effects since the medication is directly inhaled into the lungs
    •Available as two different types of inhalers (HFA inhaler and Diskus inhaler)
    •Lower-cost generic available for Flovent HFA
    Cons
    •Need to use twice per day
    •Need to rinse your mouth after each use to prevent fungal infection in the mouth (thrush)
    •Can't use to treat active asthma attacks
    •Can't use Flovent Diskus if you're allergic to milk proteins since it contains lactose
    Pros and Const for Corticosteroid
    Pros
    •Works well to prevent and treat allergy symptoms
    •Available OTC
    •Can be used to help control allergy symptoms in children 2 years or older (OTC only)
    •Available as a lower-cost generic with a prescription
    Cons
    •Can take 1 to 2 weeks or longer to see the full effects
    •Doesn't have a counter on the spray bottle, so it can be hard to remember how many sprays are left
    •Can cause side effects like headache and nose bleeds in some people
    •Unknown if safe while pregnant or breastfeeding

  • Common Side Effects of Flovent vs. Nasonex

    Common Side Effects for

    In general, common side effects for Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus are very similar:

    •Throat irritation
    •Upper respiratory tract infection (e.g., common cold)
    •Sinus infection or swelling
    •Headache
    •Cough
    •Voice hoarseness or difficulty speaking
    Common Side Effects for
    •Headache (26%)
    •Viral infection (14%)
    •Sore throat (12%)
    •Bloody nose or mucus (11%)
    •Coughing (7%)
    •Upper respiratory tract infection (i.e., common cold; 6%)
    •Period cramps (5%)
    •Muscle pain (5%)
    •Congestion, pressure near the nose or forehead, and other symptoms of sinus infection (5%)

  • Warnings of Flovent vs. Nasonex

    Common Side Effects for
    •Fungal infection in the mouth
    •Narrowing of your airways (bronchospasm)
    •Severe allergic reactions
    •Altered stress hormone levels
    •Delayed growth in children
    •Eye and vision problems
    Common Side Effects for
    •Nose injury and slowed wound healing
    •Fungal infection in the nose and throat
    •Vision changes
    •Risk of infection
    •Hormone changes
    •Poor growth in children

  • Prices with our coupons for Flovent vs. Nasonex

    Learn more about Flovent
    Learn more about Mometasone nasal spray

Compare other Asthma and Nasal Congestion drugs

Alvesco vs FloventDulera vs FloventFlovent vs AdvairFlovent vs AlbuterolFlovent vs AllegraFlovent vs Arnuity ElliptaFlovent vs AsmanexFlovent vs FlonaseFlovent vs FlunisolideFlovent vs NasonexFlovent vs PulmicortFlovent vs Pulmicort FlexhalerFlovent vs QnaslFlovent vs SymbicortQvar vs FloventSingulair vs FloventAdvair vs PulmicortNucala vs SingulairPulmicort vs AlbuterolPulmicort vs AsmanexPulmicort vs Pulmicort FlexhalerQvar vs PulmicortQvar vs SingulairSingulair vs AdvairSingulair vs AllegraSingulair vs Breo ElliptaSingulair vs ClaritinSingulair vs FlonaseSingulair vs SymbicortSingulair vs Xyzal
View More

Browse medications

View All

Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.