Triamcinolone (Intra-articular)

Triamcinolone injection is used to help relieve knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. This medicine is a steroid (cortisone-like medicine) and works by preventing inflammation.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

It is very important that your doctor checks your progress at regular visits to ensure that this medicine is working properly and to look for unwanted effects.

This medicine should not be given through any other routes. Brain, spine, and nerve problems (for example, paralysis of the arms and legs, stroke) have been reported in patients who received this medicine as an epidural or through a needle in the spine. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause septic arthritis. This is more likely if the medicine is injected into an infected area. Check with your doctor right away if you have muscle or joint stiffness, tightness, or rigidity.

Call your doctor right away if you start to have a cough that won't go away, weight loss, night sweats, fever, chills, flu-like symptoms (such as a runny or stuffy nose, headache, blurred vision, or feeling generally ill), painful or difficult urination, or sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips. These may be signs that you have an infection.

This medicine may increase your risk of having an adrenal gland that is less active than normal. The adrenal gland produces steroids for your body. This is more likely for people who use steroids for a long time or at high doses. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have any of the following symptoms: darkening of the skin, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, loss of appetite, mental depression, nausea, skin rash, unusual tiredness or weakness, or vomiting.

This medicine may increase your risk for high blood pressure, edema, and electrolyte imbalances. Check with your doctor right away if you have blurred vision, dizziness, nervousness, headache, pounding in the ears, slow or fast heartbeat, or swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs.

This medicine may increase the swelling of the eye. It may also cause changes in bone density, which may lead to osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

This medicine may cause a tear or hole in your stomach and bowels. Check with your doctor if you have severe stomach pain, cramping, or burning, bloody, black, or tarry stools, trouble breathing, vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds, severe and continuing nausea, heartburn, or indigestion.

Triamcinolone injection may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to become more depressed. Also tell your doctor if you have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. If you or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are receiving this medicine. The results of some tests (for example, skin tests) may be affected by this medicine.

Do not have any live vaccines (immunizations) while you are being treated with a steroid medicine. Check with your doctor before having any vaccines.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the benefits it will provide. This is a decision you and your doctor will make together. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also inform your healthcare professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Studies so far have not shown any specific problems in children that would limit the usefulness of triamcinolone injection. However, children are more likely to experience serious side effects (such as blood clots, cataracts, mood or behavior changes, osteoporosis, ulcers), which may require caution in patients using this medicine. Safety and effectiveness have not been established.

Geriatric

Studies conducted to date have not shown any specific problems in elderly patients that would limit the usefulness of triamcinolone injection. However, older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine than younger adults.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication while breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before using this medication during breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should never be used together, while in other cases, two different medicines can be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these situations, your doctor may need to adjust the dose or take other precautions. It is especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below while receiving this medicine. The following interactions are important and may not include all possible interactions.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may choose not to treat you with this medication or may adjust some of the other medicines you take.

• Desmopressin
• Rotavirus Vaccine, Live

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be needed in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Aldesleukin
• Aspirin
• Atazanavir
• Balofloxacin
• Bemiparin
• Besifloxacin
• Ceritinib
• Ciprofloxacin
• Cobicistat
• Darunavir
• Enoxacin
• Fleroxacin
• Flumequine
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Levofloxacin
• Lomefloxacin
• Lutetium Lu 177 Dotatate
• Macimorelin
• Moxifloxacin
• Nadifloxacin
• Nadroparin
• Nirmatrelvir
• Norfloxacin
• Ofloxacin
• Pazufloxacin
• Pefloxacin
• Prulifloxacin
• Ritonavir
• Rufloxacin
• Sargramostim
• Somatrogon-ghla
• Sparfloxacin
• Tosufloxacin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best option for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alcuronium
• Atracurium
• Auranofin
• Fosphenytoin
• Gallamine
• Hexafluorenium
• Licorice
• Metocurine
• Phenytoin
• Primidone
• Saiboku-To

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be used at or around mealtime, as interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure to inform your doctor if you have any other medical issues, especially:

• Recent exposure to chicken pox or
• Infection or
• Recent exposure to measles—May reduce your body’s ability to fight infections.

• Congestive heart failure or
• Diabetes or
• Heart rhythm problems (such as arrhythmia) or
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
• Increased intraocular pressure (swelling of the eye) or
• Joint damage or
• Kidney disease or
• History of mental illness or
• Myasthenia gravis or
• Osteoporosis or
• Stomach or bowel issues (such as anastomoses, colitis, diverticulosis, ulcers)
• Thyroid problems—Use with caution. May worsen these conditions.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

• Bruise
• cough
• fever
• headache
• joint swelling
• pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
• stuffy or runny nose
• tightness of the chest
• troubled breathing

Incidence not known

• Aggression
• bloody, black, or tarry stools
• blurred vision
• change in vision
• chest pain
• chills
• decreased or uncontrolled urination
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness
• fast heartbeat
• heartburn
• hives, itching, skin rash
• hoarseness
• incoordination
• indigestion
• irregular heartbeat
• loss of appetite
• loss of vision
• low blood pressure
• lower back or side pain
• menstrual changes
• mood or behavior changes
• muscle or joint stiffness, tightness, or rigidity
• muscle weakness
• numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet
• painful or difficult urination
• paralysis or severe weakness of the legs
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• severe and continuing nausea
• severe stomach pain, cramping, burning
• stiffness of the arms or legs
• suppressed growth in children
• swelling in the hands and feet
• tightness in the chest
• uncontrolled bowel movements
• uncontrolled movements of the body
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• unusual warmth or flushing of the skin
• vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds
• weight gain
• weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Pharmacologic Class: Triamcinolone

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital or clinic. It is given as a shot into one of your joints.

This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

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