Skip to main content
HomeDrug Comparisons
Drug bottle and Pill

Compare Sudafed vs. Nasonex

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

Key takeaways

Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and mometasone (Nasonex) are both used to treat nasal and sinus issues, but they work in different ways and are used for different conditions. Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that you take by mouth to relieve short-term nasal and sinus congestion from allergies or the common cold. It works by narrowing blood vessels in your nose and sinuses. Mometasone, on the other hand, is a corticosteroid nasal spray that reduces inflammation and is used to treat allergy symptoms and nasal polyps. Pseudoephedrine is available over-the-counter but is restricted and must be purchased at the pharmacy counter, while mometasone can be found both over-the-counter and by prescription. Pseudoephedrine can cause side effects like anxiety and difficulty sleeping, whereas mometasone might cause headaches and nosebleeds. Additionally, pseudoephedrine can raise blood pressure, so it’s not recommended for people with heart problems, while mometasone can affect growth in children and may cause vision changes with long-term use.

  • Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
    Mometasone nasal spray
  • Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
    Mometasone nasal spray

  • Summary of Sudafed vs. Nasonex

    Summary for Alpha agonist

    Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) is a non-drowsy decongestant taken by mouth to treat nasal and sinus congestion from allergies and the common cold. It's available in a short-acting version that's taken once every 4 to 6 hours. It also comes in longer-acting versions that are taken every 12 or 24 hours, depending on the dose. Side effects of Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) include anxiety and headache. This medication might also keep you awake at night if you take it too close to bedtime. Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) is an OTC medication, but it's restricted, so you can only purchase it at the pharmacy counter.

    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 Sudafed vs. Nasonex

    Indications for
    •Short-term relief of nasal and sinus congestion and pressure
    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 Sudafed vs. Nasonex

    Pros and Const for Alpha agonist
    Pros
    •Works well to treat congestion
    •Available in longer-acting versions that last 12 hours or 24 hours
    •Children's oral liquids can be taken by kids as young as 4 years old
    •Available as lower-cost generics
    Cons
    •Several products have different age cut-offs for use in children, so can be confusing
    •Might make it hard for some people to sleep
    •Can raise blood pressure and heart rate
    •Not recommended during pregnancy
    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 Sudafed vs. Nasonex

    Common Side Effects for
    •Sweating
    •Nervousness
    •Excitability
    •Difficulty sleeping
    •Low appetite
    •Difficulty urinating
    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 Sudafed vs. Nasonex

    Common Side Effects for
    •Fast heart rate and high blood pressure
    •Worsening of medical conditions
    •Accidental overdose
    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 Sudafed vs. Nasonex

    Learn more about Sudafed
    Learn more about Mometasone nasal spray

Compare other Nasal Congestion drugs

Benadryl vs SudafedClaritin vs SudafedDayquil vs Sudafed PeMucinex D vs SudafedMucinex Dm vs SudafedSudafed vs Advil Allergy And Congestion ReliefSudafed vs Advil Cold And SinusSudafed vs Advil Congestion ReliefSudafed vs AfrinSudafed vs Alka Seltzer Plus Night Cold And FluSudafed vs AllegraSudafed vs DayquilSudafed vs Dayquil Cold And FluSudafed vs Dimetapp Cold And AllergySudafed vs FlonaseSudafed vs Nasacort AqSudafed vs NasonexSudafed vs Nyquil Cold And FluSudafed vs PhenylephrineSudafed vs Rhinocort AquaSudafed vs Tylenol SinusTheraflu Daytime Severe Cold And Cough vs SudafedZyrtec D vs SudafedBenadryl vs DayquilClaritin vs DayquilDayquil vs Mucinex DDayquil vs NyquilDayquil vs TylenolDelsym vs DayquilIbuprofen vs Dayquil
View More

Browse medications

View All

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