Why is this medication
prescribed?
Triamcinolone,
a corticosteroid, is similar to a natural hormone produced by your
adrenal glands. It often is used to replace this chemical when your
body does not make enough of it. It relieves inflammation (swelling,
heat, redness, and pain) and is used to treat certain forms of
arthritis; skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid, and intestinal disorders
(e.g., colitis); severe allergies; and asthma. Triamcinolone is also
used to treat certain types of cancer.
This
medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or
pharmacist for more information.
How should this medicine be
used?
Triamcinolone
comes as a tablet and syrup to be taken by mouth. Your doctor will
prescribe a dosing schedule that is best for you. Follow the directions
on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist
to explain any part you do not understand.
Do not
stop taking triamcinolone without talking to your doctor. Stopping the
drug abruptly can cause loss of appetite, upset stomach, vomiting,
drowsiness, confusion, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain, peeling
skin, and weight loss. If you take large doses for a long time, your
doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually to allow your body to
adjust before stopping the drug completely. Watch for these side
effects if you are gradually decreasing your dose and after you stop
taking the tablets or oral liquid, even if you switch to an inhalation.
If these problems occur, call your doctor immediately. You may need to
increase your dose of tablets or liquid temporarily or start taking
them again.
Take
triamcinolone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or
take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
What special precautions
should I follow?
Before
taking triamcinolone,
- tell your doctor and
pharmacist if you are allergic to triamcinolone, aspirin, tartrazine (a
yellow dye in some processed foods and drugs), or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and
pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are
taking, especially anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin
(Coumadin), arthritis medications, aspirin, cyclosporine (Neoral,
Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics ('water pills'), estrogen
(Premarin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), oral contraceptives, phenobarbital,
phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and
vitamins.
- if you have a fungal
infection (other than on your skin), do not take triamcinolone without
talking to your doctor.
- tell your doctor if you have
or have ever had liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart disease; diabetes;
an underactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure; mental illness;
myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; seizures;
tuberculosis (TB); or ulcers.
- tell your doctor if you are
pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become
pregnant while taking triamcinolone, call your doctor.
- if you are having surgery,
including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are
taking triamcinolone.
- if you have a history of
ulcers or take large doses of aspirin or other arthritis medication,
limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages while taking this drug.
Triamcinolone makes your stomach and intestines more susceptible to the
irritating effects of alcohol, aspirin, and certain arthritis
medications. This effect increases your risk of ulcers.
What special dietary
instructions should I follow?
Your
doctor may instruct you to follow a low-sodium, low-salt,
potassium-rich, or high-protein diet. Follow these directions.
Triamcinolone
may cause an upset stomach. Take triamcinolone with food or milk.
What should I do if I forget a
dose?
When
you start to take triamcinolone, ask your doctor what to do if you
forget a dose. Write down these instructions so that you can refer to
them later.
If you
take triamcinolone once a day, take the missed dose as soon as you
remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the
missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a
double dose to make up for a missed one.
What side effects can this
medication cause?
Although
side effects from triamcinolone are not common, they can occur. Tell
your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- upset stomach
- stomach irritation
- vomiting
- headache
- dizziness
- insomnia
- restlessness
- depression
- anxiety
- acne
- increased hair growth
- easy bruising
- irregular or absent
menstrual periods
If you
experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- skin rash
- swollen face, lower legs, or
ankles
- vision problems
- cold or infection that lasts
a long time
- muscle weakness
- black or tarry stool
What storage conditions are
needed for this medicine?
Keep
this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of
reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess
heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that
is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the
proper disposal of your medication.
In case of emergency/overdose
In case
of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency
services at 911.
What other information should
I know?
Keep
all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will
order certain lab tests to check your response to triamcinolone.
Checkups are especially important for children because triamcinolone
can slow bone growth.
Carry
an identification card that indicates that you may need to take
supplementary doses (write down the full dose you took before gradually
decreasing it) of triamcinolone during periods of stress (injuries,
infections, and severe asthma attacks). Ask your pharmacist or doctor
how to obtain this card. List your name, medical problems, drugs and
dosages, and doctor's name and telephone number on the card.
This
drug makes you more susceptible to illnesses. If you are exposed to
chicken pox, measles, or tuberculosis (TB) while taking triamcinolone,
call your doctor. Do not have a vaccination, other immunization, or any
skin test while you are taking triamcinolone unless your doctor tells
you that you may.
Report
any injuries or signs of infection (fever, sore throat, pain during
urination, and muscle aches) that occur during treatment.
Your
doctor may instruct you to weigh yourself every day. Report any unusual
weight gain.
If your
sputum (the matter you cough up during an asthma attack) thickens or
changes color from clear white to yellow, green, or gray, call your
doctor; these changes may be signs of an infection.
If you
have diabetes, triamcinolone may increase your blood sugar level. If
you monitor your blood sugar (glucose) at home, test your blood or
urine more frequently than usual. Call your doctor if your blood sugar
is high or if sugar is present in your urine; your dose of diabetes
medication and your diet may need to be changed.
Do not
let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions
you have about refilling your prescription.
