Omnaris™ (
ciclesonide) is a prescription steroid nasal spray licensed to treat sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, and nasal itching due to
allergies (known medically as allergic rhinitis). It can be used to treat both seasonal allergies and allergies that occur all year long (known as perennial allergies).
Omnaris is made by Nycomed US, Inc.
Allergies occur as the result of the immune system's reaction to normally harmless substances that do not bother most people.
This immune system reaction is known as inflammation and involves several different types of cells and several different chemicals in the body.
Omnaris is a corticosteroid, or simply "steroid" for short. Steroids can have many different effects in the body, including anti-inflammatory effects. They decrease inflammation by limiting the body's ability to produce an immune system reaction. Steroids can be effective for treating conditions such as allergies. However, long-term use can cause bothersome and sometimes serious side effects, and this limits the usefulness of many steroids. Because Omnaris is a nasal spray, its effects are generally limited to the nose. This helps prevent many of the long-term side effects.
Although Omnaris is a steroid, it is not the same type of steroid used to enhance athletic performance or to increase muscle mass. These steroids are completely different from the type used in nasal sprays such as Omnaris.
