Compare Sudafed vs. Nasonex
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Clears your sinuses.
Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) relieves stuffy nose, but it could keep you up at night. Don't forget your photo ID or you won't be able to buy it in the drugstore.
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3.9/ 5 average rating with 1740 reviewsforSudafed
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
- One of the best over-the-counter options to clear stuffy nose and help you breathe better.
- Clears nasal congestion better than other decongestants like phenylephrine.
- Can be helpful in relieving congestion-related headaches and pressure in your ears.
- Available in regular and extended release forms.
- 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
- Pseudoephedrine (a decongestant) can make your heart race or make you feel anxious and restless.
- It can affect the quality of your sleep, so you can't take it too close to going to bed.
- Can raise blood pressure so check with your doctor before using it if you have high blood pressure or other heart conditions.
- Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) isn't as effective after using it for more than 4 days straight.
- Need to show a photo ID to buy it in the drugstore and there is a limit on how much you can buy each visit.
- 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
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Extended release
- Liquid
- Nasal spray
Price
Lowest price
$4.00
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$44.47
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Reviews
1740 reviews so far
82%
saidit'sworth it
45%
saiditworked well
6%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine)?
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 (Pseudoephedrine) 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
- Heart problems
- History of heart problems
- Age 65 years or older
- Seizures
- History of seizures
- 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