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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Take oral triamcinolone with food or milk to lessen stomach upset.

Carry some type of medical identification that will let others know you are using triamcinolone in the case of an emergency.

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.

Your pharmacist has additional information about triamcinolone written for health professionals that you may read.

Triamcinolone is available in many brand and generic formulations. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.