This medication is used in a variety of conditions such
as allergic disorders, arthritis, gout, blood diseases, breathing problems,
certain cancers, eye diseases, intestinal disorders, collagen and skin
diseases. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of
triamcinolone, especially if it is to be injected near your spine
(epidural). Rare but serious side effects may occur with epidural
use.
Triamcinolone is known as a corticosteroid hormone
(glucocorticoid). It works by decreasing your body's immune response to
these diseases and reduces symptoms such as swelling.
Depending on your product, this medication may be given
by injecting into different locations such as a muscle, a skin lesion, or a
joint. Injections are usually given by a trained healthcare professional.
If you are giving the injection yourself into a muscle, you will be taught
by your healthcare professional on how to properly use this medication. If
any of the information is unclear, consult your healthcare
professional.
The injection site, schedule, dosage, and length of
treatment are based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Do
not inject this medication into a vein or into the area around the spinal
cord (epidural). This medication is not recommended for injection
around/into the eye or certain parts of the nose due to the risk for
blindness or damage to the eye(s). Consult your doctor for more
details.
Use this medication and follow the dosing schedule
exactly as directed by your doctor in order to get the most benefit from
it. Do not change your dose or use this medication for a longer time than
prescribed. Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any
questions about your treatment.
Wash hands with soap and water before using this
medication. Before using, check this product for particles or
discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid.
Before injecting each dose into a muscle, clean the
injection site with rubbing alcohol. It is important to change the location
of the injection site to avoid discomfort or problem areas. Your dose may
need to be gradually decreased to reduce symptoms such as weakness, weight
loss, nausea, and extreme tiredness.
Shake vial before use to evenly disperse the suspension.
Inject the prescribed dose immediately after withdrawing it into the
syringe to avoid settling of the medication in the syringe.
Learn how to store and discard syringes, needles, and
medical supplies safely. Consult your pharmacist for more
information.
If you have been using this medication for a long time,
do not suddenly stop it without your doctor's approval. Some conditions may
become worse when this drug is suddenly stopped.
This medication may be injected into a joint to treat
conditions such as arthritis and bursitis. If you have received an
injection into a joint, be careful how much stress you put on that joint,
even if it is feeling better. Ask your doctor how much you can move the
joint while it is healing.
Tell your doctor if your condition gets worse or if you
have new symptoms.
Redness or pain at the injection site, stomach upset,
headache, dizziness, trouble sleeping, or weight gain may occur. If any of
these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist
promptly.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check
your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are
high.
This medication may make your blood sugar rise, which
can cause or worsen diabetes. Tell your doctor right away if you have
symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst/urination. If you
already have diabetes, check your blood sugar regularly as directed and
share the results with your doctor. Your doctor may need to adjust your
diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet.
This medication may lower your ability to fight
infections. This may make you more likely to get a serious (rarely fatal)
infection or make any infection you have worse. Tell your doctor right away
if you have any signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn't go
away, fever, chills, cough).
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- weakness
- puffy face
- unusual weight gain
- thinning skin
- bone pain
- menstrual period changes
- mental/mood changes (such as depression, mood swings,
agitation)
- easy bruising/bleeding
- vision problems
- swelling ankles/feet/hands
- fast/slow/irregular heartbeat
- red/purple spots on the skin
If you have received injection of this medication into
the joint, temporary discomfort of the joint may occur. Tell your doctor
right away if you have fever, increased/severe pain with swelling of the
joint, weakness in the joint, or decreased range of motion in the
joint.
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- symptoms of stomach/intestinal bleeding (such as
stomach/abdominal pain, black/tarry stools, vomit that looks like coffee
grounds)
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before using triamcinolone, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other corticosteroids (such as
methylprednisolone); or if you have any other allergies. This product may
contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other
problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- bleeding problems
- blood clots
- bone loss (osteoporosis)
- diabetes
- certain eye diseases (such as cataracts, glaucoma, herpes
infection of the eye)
- heart problems (such as heart failure, recent heart
attack)
- high blood pressure
- current/past infections (such as joint infections and
infections caused by fungus, herpes, tuberculosis, threadworm)
- kidney disease
- liver disease (such as hepatitis B)
- mental/mood conditions (such as psychosis, anxiety,
depression)
- stomach/intestinal problems (such as diverticulitis, ulcer,
ulcerative colitis)
- seizures
- thyroid problems
- mineral imbalance
- a certain adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma)
This drug may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana
(cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do
anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic
beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana
(cannabis).
Using corticosteroid medications for a long time can
make it more difficult for your body to respond to physical stress. Before
having surgery or emergency treatment, or if you get a serious
illness/injury, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this
medication or have used this medication within the past 12 months. Tell
your doctor right away if you develop unusual/extreme tiredness or weight
loss. If you will be using this medication for a long time, carry a warning
card or medical ID bracelet that identifies your use of this
medication.
This medication may mask signs of infection. It can make
you more likely to get infections or may make current infections worse.
Stay away from anyone who has an infection that may easily spread (such as
chickenpox, COVID-19, measles, flu). Talk to your doctor if you have been
exposed to an infection or for more details.
Tell your health care professional that you are using
triamcinolone before having any immunizations, vaccinations, or skin tests.
Avoid contact with people who have recently received live vaccines (such as
flu vaccine inhaled through the nose).
This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of
alcohol while using this medicine may increase your risk for stomach
bleeding. Limit alcoholic beverages.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects
of this drug, especially bone loss/pain, stomach/intestinal bleeding, and
mental/mood changes (such as confusion).
This medication may slow down a child's growth if used
for a long time. Consult the doctor or pharmacist for more details. See the
doctor regularly so your child's height and growth can be
checked.
Injecting this medication into a muscle is not
recommended for children younger than six years. Consult your doctor for
more details.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only
when clearly needed. It may rarely harm an unborn baby. Discuss the risks
and benefits with your doctor. Infants born to mothers who use
corticosteroid medications for a long time may have hormone problems. Tell
your doctor right away if you notice symptoms such as nausea/vomiting that
doesn't stop, severe diarrhea, or weakness in your newborn.
It is unknown if this medication passes into breast
milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug
are:
- aldesleukin
- desmopressin
- mifepristone
- other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including
antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen,
"blood thinners" such as warfarin/dabigatran)
Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with
this medication. However, if your doctor has told you to take low-dose
aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually 81-162 milligrams a
day), you should keep taking the aspirin unless your doctor tells you not
to. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
This medication may interfere with certain lab tests
(such as skin tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure lab
personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Do not share this medication with others. Lifestyle
changes that help reduce the risk of bone loss (osteoporosis) during
long-term therapy include weight-bearing exercise, getting adequate calcium
and vitamin D, stopping smoking, and limiting alcohol. Discuss lifestyle
changes that might benefit you with your doctor.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as blood counts, blood
glucose/mineral levels, blood pressure, bone density tests, height/weight
measurements, eye exams, x-rays) should be done while you are using this
medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for
more details.
If you use this medication for prolonged periods, you
should wear or carry identification stating that you are using
it.
This medication should be used as scheduled. If you miss
a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for instructions. Do not double
the dose to catch up.
Different brands of this medication have different
storage needs. Check the product package for instructions on how to store
your brand, or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medications away from children
and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.