Triamcinolone ophthalmic

This medication guide is specific to Triesence.

Triamcinolone ophthalmic (for the eyes) is a steroid medicine that is injected into the eye to treat inflammation caused by a disease, an injury, or a specific type of eye surgery.

Triamcinolone ophthalmic may be given if other treatments did not work or have stopped working.

Triamcinolone ophthalmic may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

You should not be treated with triamcinolone if you have a fungal infection that affects your entire body.

You should not use triamcinolone ophthalmic if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• an allergic reaction to similar medicines such as oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroids; or
• if you have a fungal infection affecting the whole body.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

• tuberculosis;
• diabetes;
• osteoporosis or low bone mineral density;
• mental illness or psychosis;
• herpes infection of your eye;
• cataracts, glaucoma, or another condition that increases pressure inside your eyes;
• diverticulitis, stomach or intestinal ulcer, or stomach surgery;
• a thyroid disorder;
• high blood pressure, heart failure, or heart attack;
• cerebral malaria;
• if you are scheduled to receive a vaccine;
• unexplained diarrhea or if you recently traveled;
• chickenpox or measles (or have been exposed to them);
• a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis; or
• kidney disease.

Make sure you are current on all vaccines before you start using triamcinolone ophthalmic.

Steroids may increase your risk of developing Kaposi's Sarcoma, a certain type of skin cancer. Ask your doctor about your individual risk.

Steroids can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have. Tell your doctor about any recent, active, or chronic illness, especially any type of infection caused by bacteria, virus, fungus, or parasites, including threadworm.

Triamcinolone ophthalmic may harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while receiving this medicine.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Triamcinolone ophthalmic may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you have:

• signs of eye infection--swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting or drainage;
• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights; or
• high blood pressure;
• unusual changes in mood or behavior;
• low blood potassium--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, numbness or tingling, feeling weak; or
• increased adrenal gland hormones--hunger, weight gain, swelling, slow wound healing, sweating, acne, increased body hair, tiredness, mood changes, muscle weakness, missed menstrual periods, changes in sexual function; or
• decreased adrenal gland hormones--nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, feeling tired or light-headed, muscle or joint pain, skin discoloration, craving salty foods.

Triamcinolone ophthalmic can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.

Common side effects of triamcinolone ophthalmic may include:

• blurred vision, increased pressure inside the eye;
• unusual changes in mood or behavior;
• high blood pressure, changes in blood sugar; or
• increased appetite or weight.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Triamcinolone ophthalmic is injected into your eye by a healthcare provider. Your doctor will use another medicine to help numb your eye before giving you the injection. You will receive this injection in the doctor's office or another clinical setting.

After the injection, you will be watched closely for any swelling, inflammation, increased pressure in your eye, or changes in your vision.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

You will need frequent medical tests and eye exams.

Tell your doctor if you have a planned skin test. Triamcinolone ophthalmic may affect the results.

Your doctor may instruct you to limit your salt intake, and you may need to take potassium supplements. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss your appointment for your triamcinolone ophthalmic injection.

In a medical setting, an overdose would be treated quickly.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chickenpox or measles. These illnesses can be serious or even deadly for people using steroid medicine.

Do not get a smallpox vaccine or any other "live" vaccine right after receiving this medicine. You could develop a serious infection or the vaccine may not work as well. Live vaccines may include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), nasal flu vaccine, and others.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications together. Some drugs can change the levels of other drugs in your blood, which may increase side effects or reduce the effectiveness of the medications.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking. Many drugs can affect triamcinolone ophthalmic, especially:

• a diuretic or "water pill";
• heart or blood pressure medication;
• insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
• birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy;
• medicine to treat any type of infection;
• cyclosporine;
• other steroid medicine;
• certain medicines to treat Alzheimer's or myasthenia gravis;
• a blood thinner—warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven; or
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)—aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete, and many other drugs may affect triamcinolone. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.