Mometasone, Topical
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Mometasone, Topical during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Mometasone, Topical
(moh-meht-ah-zone)
Description: Mometasone, Topical
Mometasone, Topical is a steroid medicine used on the skin to reduce swelling and irritation.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Elocon®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Veterinary: None
- Human: Mometasone comes as a cream, lotion, ointment, and liquid solution. These products are usually 0.1% strength.
This handout does not include every possible detail about this medicine and it has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. It is meant to answer common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you need more details or have questions, speak with your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Key Information
- Mometasone used on the skin is meant for short-term treatment in dogs, cats, horses, and small mammals to help with itchy, inflamed skin.
- This is a high-strength steroid. If it is used for too long, it can lead to unwanted effects. Use it only on small spots and only for the shortest time needed.
- This medicine can affect allergy testing results. It should be stopped 2 weeks before allergy testing.
- If an animal swallows this medicine, it can be dangerous. Prevent your animal from licking the treated skin.
- Do not put this medicine in the eyes or close to the eyes.
- After you use this medicine, wash your hands.
How is this medication useful?
Mometasone applied to the skin may be used in dogs, cats, horses, and small mammals (for example, rabbits) to manage small patches of skin that are irritated and itchy.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how this medicine works for your animal. Share the information below with your veterinarian so you can decide together what is best.
- Tell your veterinarian or pharmacist if your animal has ever had medicine-related problems before. This includes allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, loose stool, itching, or hair loss.
- Some medicines do not mix well with others. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also include how much you give and when you give it.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had in the past.
- If your animal has had the same problem before, tell your veterinarian what was used last time and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine with your veterinarian.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
- You should notice your animal becoming more comfortable within 1 to 2 hours. After that, the signs you are treating should keep getting better.
- This medicine has effects that last a moderate amount of time, which means the benefit may continue for a few days.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely risk-free for every animal. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your animal.
If your animal has any of the issues listed below, talk with your veterinarian about the possible risks compared with the possible benefits.
- Allergic to mometasone.
- Pregnant, nursing, or intended for breeding.
- With diabetes mellitus (a condition involving blood sugar problems) or hyperadrenocorticism (a condition where the body makes too much steroid hormone).
- With liver failure.
- That need treatment over large areas of the body.
- With very small body size (for example, toy breeds).
What are the side effects of this medication?
Most animals handle mometasone on the skin without problems.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Skin changes where the medicine was used (for example, redness, itching, or a burning feeling)
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Drinking much more than usual and urinating more often
- Skin becoming thinner, skin tearing more easily, or infections developing where the medicine is applied
- Wounds taking longer to heal
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
- If you see your animal get too much, or you think your animal may have swallowed it by accident, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center right away for instructions.
- When you call, have the medicine package directions and the prescription label with you.
How should this medication be given?
For the medicine to work as intended, use it exactly the way your veterinarian told you to. Always read the prescription label and the package directions so you apply it correctly.
- After putting it on, do not let your animal lick or clean the treated area for at least 20 to 30 minutes.
- Do not place a covering or bandage over the treated skin unless your veterinarian specifically tells you to.
- Do not use this medicine in the eyes or on the skin around the eyes.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time depending on the situation. Make sure you clearly understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep using it.
- You may need prescription refills before the full treatment plan is finished.
- Do not stop using this medicine without speaking to your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to keep going.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, apply it as soon as you remember.
- If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, do not apply the missed one. Apply the next dose at the regular time.
- Then continue with the normal schedule.
- Do not apply extra medicine and do not apply two doses at once.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in its original container.
- Store it at room temperature.
- Keep it away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist has prepared a custom-made version for your animal (a compounded product), follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store this medicine where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
First aid for caregiver exposure:
- It is advised to wear gloves when you apply this medicine. Wash your hands after you finish.
- This medicine is only for use on the outside of the body. If swallowed, it may be harmful. Keep it out of children’s reach.
- IF SWALLOWED:
- Call a poison control center or a doctor immediately for treatment advice.
- If the person is awake and can swallow, have them drink several glasses of water.
- Do not give anything by mouth to someone who is unconscious.
- Get medical care immediately.
- Do not make the person vomit unless medical staff tell you to.
- IF IN EYES:
- Rinse the eyes right away with plenty of water for 15 minutes, then contact a poison control center or doctor for advice.
- IF ON SKIN:
- Take off clothing that has the medicine on it.
- Wash the skin right away with lots of soap and water for at least 15 minutes.
- If a skin reaction happens, get medical care.
- Wash the clothing before wearing it again.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not pour this medicine into a sink and do not flush it in a toilet.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is less appealing to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash.
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it does not leak.
- Throw the sealed bag into your regular household trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Before entering a competition, check the rules while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- Because this is a strong steroid used on the skin, using it for a long time can cause side effects. For that reason, use mometasone only on small areas and only for the shortest time needed to manage your animal’s problem.
- If your animal will have allergy testing, your veterinarian will tell you when to stop this medicine so it does not affect the test results.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”
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