Omnacortil 10 Tablet: Uses, Side Effects & FAQs

Omnacortil 10 is a prednisolone tablet. It is a steroid that brings down swelling and calms an overactive immune system. Doctors prescribe it for severe allergic reactions, asthma flare-ups, arthritis, and inflammation in the skin, eyes and kidneys. It is a prescription-only medicine in India and does not treat the cause of these conditions.

Omnacortil 10 is a single-medicine tablet, not a combination product. Its only active ingredient is prednisolone, a corticosteroid - the same family as cortisol, the steroid your body makes on its own. The number in the name is the strength - this is a 10 mg prednisolone tablet, not the anabolic steroid bodybuilders use.

Check the label on your pack. The brand also comes in other strengths and as an oral liquid. Some strips are marked DT, which means the tablet dissolves in water.

Prednisolone is a man-made copy of cortisol, the hormone your body releases to switch inflammation off. It slows the release of the chemicals that cause swelling, redness, itching and pain. It also dampens the immune system's attack on your own tissues, which is why it helps in rheumatoid arthritis.

Doctors usually prescribe it for:

• Severe allergic reactions, such as swelling, hives or a reaction to a medicine or food
• Asthma flare-ups and COPD (a long-term lung disease), where the airways are swollen and tight
• Inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and gout
• Skin problems such as severe eczema, psoriasis and contact dermatitis
• Eye inflammation - red, itchy allergic eyes, or deeper swelling inside the eye
• Nephrotic syndrome, a kidney problem that lets protein leak into the urine

It does not kill bacteria, viruses or fungi. It can also hide fever and pain, so tell your doctor if you feel unwell.

Using a steroid for an untreated infection can hide fever and pain while the infection gets worse.

1. Take it in the morning, usually after breakfast, unless your doctor sets another time.
2. Swallow it with a full glass of water. If your strip is marked DT, dissolve it in water first.
3. Have it with food if it upsets your stomach.
4. Keep to the same time each day.
5. Do not crush, split or chew a plain tablet. A DT tablet is made to dissolve - follow step 2 for that strip.
6. Finish the exact number of days your doctor set, even if you feel better early.

Your doctor sets the dose based on what is being treated, how severe it is, your age, other conditions and how you respond. For prednisolone tablets, the starting dose is usually between 5 mg and 60 mg a day. Once you improve, it is cut back in small steps to the lowest dose that holds your symptoms.

Never raise the dose on your own. A bigger dose does not work faster, but it does raise the risk of high blood sugar, mood changes, infections and thinning bones.

Children can take prednisolone only on a paediatrician's advice, at a dose set for the child. Do not give an adult tablet to a child.

Do not stop suddenly after more than a few days. Your body slows its own steroid production and needs a step-by-step reduction to restart. If someone takes too much, get medical help straight away and carry the strip with you.

Take it as soon as you remember, unless your next dose is close. If it is nearly time, skip the missed dose and carry on as usual. Never take two doses together to make up for one.

Prednisolone starts working the same day, but how soon you feel better depends on what is being treated. For many allergic and connective-tissue conditions, doctors look for a clear response within 4 to 10 days. If nothing has changed by then, go back to your doctor.

Keep the strip in its closed packaging at room temperature, away from heat and damp — not in the bathroom. Keep it out of reach of children, and check the expiry date before use.

Most people take a short course without trouble. Side effects, when they happen, are usually mild and settle once the course ends.

Common and mild:

• Increased appetite and weight gain
• Mood changes, such as feeling irritable, low or unusually happy
• Trouble falling asleep
• Headache
• Indigestion or nausea
• Thinner skin and easy bruising

Rare but serious (stop the medicine and see a doctor right away):

• Severe mood change, depression, or thoughts of harming yourself
• Sudden weight gain, a puffy face or swollen legs
• Blurred vision, or a dark or grey spot in your sight
• Severe stomach pain, black stools or vomiting blood
• Swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing

On a long course, call your doctor before stopping - never stop on your own. If your face, lips or throat swell, or you have trouble breathing, stop and get emergency help at once.

These come from prednisolone itself and are more likely with higher doses and longer courses.

If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, call Tele-MANAS on 14416 or 1800-891-4416, free and open 24 hours a day. In an emergency call 112, or 108 for an ambulance.

• Anyone allergic to prednisolone or to any ingredient in the tablet
• An untreated fungal infection inside the body
• Cerebral malaria
• Live vaccines (measles, mumps, chickenpox) during treatment

Tell your doctor before taking Omnacortil 10 if you:

• Have diabetes or a family history of it, high blood pressure, heart failure or a recent heart attack (steroids raise blood sugar and blood pressure)
• Have a stomach ulcer, or have had bleeding in the gut
• Have osteoporosis, or a fracture from a minor fall
• Have glaucoma, cataracts or an eye infection
• Have tuberculosis, or have been near someone with chickenpox or measles
• Have liver disease or epilepsy (the medicine acts more strongly and can trigger seizures)
• Have depression, anxiety or a past mental health problem
• Are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding (these can be used if needed, but your doctor weighs the risks)

Tell your doctor about every medicine, supplement or home remedy you use, and ask whether alcohol is safe for you.

A steroid tablet only controls inflammation. See a doctor quickly if:

• Your asthma, arthritis or skin problem is not improving, or you need your reliever inhaler more often
• Your face, lips or throat swell, or you have trouble breathing — call 112 or 108 now
• You get a fever, sore throat or chills during treatment
• A wound, skin sore or eye infection is spreading
• You gain weight quickly, your face puffs up or your ankles swell
• Your mood changes in a way that worries you or your family, or you have thoughts of harming yourself

Omnacortil 10 is a prednisolone tablet, used when inflammation needs to come down quickly. That covers severe allergies, asthma flare-ups and arthritis. Take it in the morning as your doctor told you, and never stop a longer course suddenly. Increased appetite, mood changes and poor sleep are what people notice most, and they usually ease when the course ends.