Compare Phenylephrine vs. Nasonex
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Clears your sinuses.
Sudafed Pe (Phenylephrine) is a good medication for relieving stuffy nose. It doesn't work as well as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), but it has fewer side effects.
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3.1/ 5 average rating with 164 reviewsforPhenylephrine
Relieves allergy symptoms.
Nasonex (Mometasone) is a good first-choice treatment for stuffy and runny noses caused by allergies.
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3.6/ 5 average rating with 675 reviewsforNasonex
Upsides
- Works to clear nasal congestion and helps you breathe better.
- Helpful in relieving congestion-related headaches.
- Has fewer side effects than other decongestants like pseudoephedrine.
- It doesn't raise your blood pressure and heart rate as much, or cause as much trouble falling asleep.
- Doesn't give you rebound congestion (worse symptoms when you stop taking it) like nasal spray decongestants do.
- First-choice medication for treating runny and stuffy noses caused by allergies. It works by reducing inflammation in the nose.
- Because it's used directly where the inflammation is happening, it has fewer side effects than oral steroids do and has a lower chance of causing withdrawal symptoms once the medication is stopped.
- Can be used as needed to help control symptoms in people age 13 years or older.
- Available as a generic, which is cheaper.
Downsides
- Phenylephrine doesn't last as long as other decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed).
- You shouldn't use it if you have high blood pressure.
- Can make your heart race or make you feel anxious and restless.
- Shouldn't use it before you want to sleep.
- Not as effective after using it for 4 days in a row.
- Needs to be primed 10 times before it can be used, or re-primed if not used for more than 2 weeks.
- Doesn't have a counter on it, so it can be hard to remember how many sprays are left (each bottle has 120 sprays).
- Since the medicine in Nasonex (Mometasone) is a steroid, it can slow down your healing process if you've hurt your nose or had nose surgery.
Used for
- Nasal congestion
- Pupil dilation
- Glaucoma
- Uveitis
- Hemorrhoids
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Nasal spray
- Eye drops
- Suppository
- Nasal spray
Price
Lowest price
$8.43
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$8.32
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Reviews
164 reviews so far
44%
saidit'sworth it
24%
saiditworked well
10%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Sudafed Pe (Phenylephrine)?
Leave a review675 reviews so far
68%
saidit'sworth it
39%
saiditworked well
8%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Nasonex (Mometasone)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
The Sudafed Pe (Phenylephrine) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
Risks and risk factors
- High blood pressure
- History of high blood pressure
- Taking MAO inhibitors
- Heart problems
- History of heart problems
- Age 65 years or older
- Harm to fetus
- Women of childbearing age
- Thrush in the nose and throat
- Long-term use
- Changes in the nasal septum
- Long-term use
- Decreased wound healing
- Surgery or trauma to the nose or sinuses
- Glaucoma and cataracts
- Long-term use
- Reduced immune system
- Exposure to immunizable diseases (chickenpox and measles)
- Exposure to tuberculosis
- Decrease in growth in children and teenagers
- Long-term use
- Taking more than recommended dose