What is triamcinolone?
• Triamcinolone is in a class of drugs called steroids.
Triamcinolone reduces swelling and decreases the body's immune
response.
• Triamcinolone is used in the treatment of many different
conditions. It is used to treat endocrine (hormonal) disorders
when the body does not produce enough of its own steroids.
It is also used to treat many immune and allergic disorders,
such as allergic reactions, skin reactions, arthritis, bursitis,
tenosynovitis, gout, lupus, psoriasis, asthma, ulcerative
colitis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and others.
• Triamcinolone may also be used for purposes other
than those listed in this medication guide.
Who should not use triamcinolone?
• Do not use triamcinolone if you have a serious bacterial,
viral, or fungal infection. Triamcinolone weakens the body's
immune response and thus its ability to fight infection.
• Before using this medication, tell your doctor if
you have
· kidney disease,
· liver disease,
· high blood pressure or heart disease,
· hypothyroidism,
· a psychiatric condition,
· osteoporosis,
· myasthenia gravis,
· diabetes mellitus, or
· another medical condition.
• You may not be able to use triamcinolone, or you may
require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment
if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• Triamcinolone is in the FDA pregnancy category C.
This means that it is not known whether triamcinolone will
be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use this medication without
first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could
become pregnant during treatment.
• Triamcinolone passes into breast milk. Do not use
triamcinolone without first talking to your doctor if you
are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I use triamcinolone?
• Use triamcinolone exactly as directed by your doctor.
If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist,
nurse or doctor to explain them to you.
• Triamcinolone may be used orally (by mouth) or by
injection into the joint, skin, muscle, or other tissue. If
you are injecting the medication at home, your doctor, nurse,
or pharmacist will give you specific instructions on how and
where it should be injected. Do not administer an injection
if you are unsure how to properly give the injection, how
much to inject, or how often to inject the medication. Call
your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to go over the instructions
with you.
• Take each oral dose with a full glass of water.
• Take oral triamcinolone with food or milk to lessen
stomach upset.
• Measure the oral liquid with the dropper provided
or with a special dose-measuring spoon, dropper, or cup. Ask
your pharmacist for a dose-measuring device if you do not
have one.
• If you are taking one dose daily, take that dose before
9 a.m. if possible, to follow the body's natural cycle. If
you take more than one dose daily, space the doses evenly
throughout the day as directed by your doctor.
• Do not inject any form of triamcinolone that is discolored
or that has particles in it.
• Throw away used syringes and needles in a puncture
resistant container after use.
• Do not stop using triamcinolone suddenly if you have
been using it for a few weeks. You may need a gradual reduction
in dosage before stopping completely.
• Carry some type of medical identification that will
let others know you are using triamcinolone in the case of
an emergency.
• Store triamcinolone at room temperature away from
moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• If you take one oral dose daily, take the missed dose
as soon as you remember. However, if you don't remember until
the next day, skip the dose you missed and take only the regular
daily dose.
• If you take more than one oral dose daily, you can
either take the missed dose as soon as you remember, or you
can take two doses (the one you missed plus the regularly
scheduled dose) when it is time for the next dose.
• If you take one oral dose every other day, take the
missed dose as soon as you remember, then go back to your
regular every-other-day schedule.
• Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of injectable
triamcinolone.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention. A single large dose
of this medication is unlikely to cause symptoms or death.
An overdose is more likely to be caused by a chronic overdose--large
doses used over a period of time.
• Symptoms of an overdose include obesity (especially
around the stomach); a round face; increased hair growth (especially
around the face); acne; bruising; increased blood pressure;
swollen hands, feet, or ankles (fluid retention); and sore
or weak muscles.
What should I avoid while using triamcinolone?
• Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol and triamcinolone
can be damaging to the stomach.
• Avoid sources of infection. Wash your hands frequently
and keep them away from the mouth and eyes. The immune system
may be weakened while using triamcinolone.
• Do not receive any immunizations during treatment
with triamcinolone without first talking to your doctor.
What are the possible side effects of triamcinolone?
• If you experience any of the following serious side
effects, seek emergency medical attention or contact your
doctor immediately:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing
of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· increased blood pressure (severe headache or blurred
vision);
· sudden weight gain (more than 5 pounds in a day or
two); or
· pain, redness, or skin changes at the site of injection.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely
to occur. Continue to use triamcinolone and talk to your doctor
if you experience
· insomnia;
· nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset;
· fatigue or dizziness;
· muscle weakness;
· problems with diabetes control; or
· increased hunger or thirst.
• Other side effects that occur only rarely, usually
with high doses of triamcinolone, include
· acne;
· increased hair growth;
· thinning of the skin;
· cataracts;
· glaucoma;
· osteoporosis;
· roundness of the face; or
· changes in behavior.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also
occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems
unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect triamcinolone?
• Do not take any other over-the-counter or prescription
medications, including herbal products, during treatment with
triamcinolone without first talking to your doctor. Many other
medicines can interact with triamcinolone resulting in side
effects or altered effectiveness of the medications.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about triamcinolone
written for health professionals that you may read.
• Remember, keep
this and all other medicines out of the reach of children,
never share your medicines with others, and use this medication
only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information
provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date,
and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug
information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners
and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does
not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate,
unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information
does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy.
Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for
their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service
as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise,
skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.
The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination
in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or
drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for
any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended
to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings,
drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.
If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check
with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version:
5.03. Revision Date: 1/23/04.
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