Common questions about mometasone inhalers - Brand name: Asmanex

Mometasone is a type of medicine called a steroid (also called a corticosteroid).

Steroids closely copy the effects of natural hormones produced in your adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are above your kidneys.

Mometasone works by reducing swelling (inflammation) of the airways in your lungs to make breathing easier. It also stops symptoms such as wheezing and coughing developing.

It does not help to treat an asthma attack when you suddenly get coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. You'll usually be given a separate reliever inhaler.

There are also combination preventer inhalers that contain mometasone with a medicine called indacaterol (brand names Atectura and Enerzair). Indacaterol works by relaxing the tight muscles around your airways which helps air flow in and out of your lungs.

A mometasone inhaler does not start to work straight away. You need to keep using your mometasone inhaler every day, as prescribed, so it can build up protection in your airways over time. It may take several weeks to see the full benefits.

You'll usually start to wheeze less or feel less breathless after using mometasone for 3 to 7 days.

Once your symptoms have improved, you may find you need to use your other inhaler (called a reliever) less often.

If your shortness of breath or wheezing does not get better after 7 days of using mometasone, or if it gets worse, let your doctor or nurse know as soon as possible.

It's important to keep using your mometasone inhaler every day even if you feel better.

If you use your inhaler as recommended by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist you're unlikely to get any lasting side effects.

Inhalers generally deliver a small amount of steroid medicine exactly where you need it. This limits the amount of steroid reaching the rest of your body. It also keeps the risk of side effects as low as possible.

However, for children and teenagers using high doses of a steroid inhaler, their height and weight need to be monitored carefully. This is to make sure the steroid is not affecting their growth. Talk to their doctor if you're worried. They'll be able to explain the benefits and risks of giving your child mometasone.

Adults taking high doses have an increased risk of getting adrenal gland problems or weak bones (osteoporosis) over time. This is because more of the steroid gets into your body.

Your doctor will monitor you closely and may prescribe medicines to help strengthen your bones. Calcium-rich foods (such as milk and cheese, or non-dairy milks with added calcium) and regular exercise can also help keep bones healthy.

Do not stop using your mometasone inhaler without speaking to your doctor or specialist nurse first.

If you have an inhaler to control your asthma, your breathing problems may return if you suddenly stop using it.

You might feel wheezy or short of breath. Your chest may feel tight and you could start to cough.

You do not need to stop using your mometasone inhaler before surgery. Suddenly stopping treatment can make you feel unwell and may give you symptoms.

If you're having surgery or having emergency treatment, for example after an accident, tell the person treating you that you're taking mometasone. Your doctor may decide you need extra steroids for a while.

If you've been given a blue steroid treatment card, or a red steroid emergency card, show your card to anyone treating you so they can plan your treatment.

As well as mometasone inhalers, there are other preventer inhalers that contain steroids such as beclometasone, budesonide, ciclesonide and fluticasone.

They can look very different, and some are for adults only.

These steroid inhalers all work in the same way, but there are differences between how strong they are and how likely they are to cause side effects.

Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse about which is the best choice of steroid inhaler for you or your child.

It's important to only ever use your own mometasone inhaler. Your inhaler may be different to a friend's or relative's. Their inhaler might contain a different dose of mometasone.

Preventer inhalers are different from the inhalers used during asthma attacks. These are called bronchodilators or reliever inhalers.

Steroid emergency card (red card)

If you're prescribed steroid medicines such as mometasone, your adrenal glands may not make as much of some of the hormones your body needs such as cortisol (known as the stress hormone). This is known as adrenal insufficiency.

It's more likely to happen if you take high doses for a long time (especially tablets and injections) or if you regularly use different kinds of steroids at the same time (such as a steroid nasal spray and a steroid inhaler).

Your doctor or pharmacist will assess your risk of adrenal insufficiency based on the type and dose of steroids you're taking, and may recommend that you carry a steroid emergency card. This card is the size of a credit card and fits in your wallet or purse.

The Addison's Disease Self-Help Group (ADSHG) website has more information about the NHS steroid emergency card.

Blue steroid card

If you're on a high dose of mometasone, your doctor or pharmacist will also give you a blue steroid treatment card. It tells you how you can reduce the risks of side effects. It also gives details of your doctor, how much mometasone you take and how long the treatment will last for.

If you need any medical or dental treatment, show your blue steroid card to the doctor or dentist.

Mometasone does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill, progestogen-only pill or emergency contraception.

For most people, using mometasone inhalers will not affect their ability to drive a car or cycle.

However, if your eyesight is affected in any way, do not drive or cycle.

Yes, you can drink alcohol with mometasone inhalers.

You can eat and drink normally while using mometasone inhalers.

Try not to smoke. Smoking irritates the lungs and will make your breathing problem worse.

Mometasone will also work better if you do not smoke.

Speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you're finding it hard to stop smoking. Stop smoking treatments are available on the NHS.

There are several things you can do to help your condition when you're living with asthma. These include:

• stopping smoking – not smoking can significantly reduce how severe and frequent your symptoms are
• exercising regularly – exercise is unlikely to trigger your symptoms once you're on appropriate treatment
• healthy eating – aim for a healthy, balanced diet and lose excess weight if you need to
• getting vaccinated – it's a good idea to have the annual flu vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccination when it's offered
• trying an air filter – they do not remove all the allergens but some people find they help their symptoms