Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
What Is Kenalog-40?
Kenalog-40 (triamcinolone acetonide) is a corticosteroid indicated for intramuscular or intraarticular use only in allergic states, dermatologic diseases, endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, hematologic disorders, renal diseases, respiratory diseases, rheumatic disorders, and nervous system disorders where oral therapy is not feasible. Kenalog-40 is available as a generic drug.
What Are Side Effects of Kenalog-40?
Side effects of Kenalog-40 include:
- allergic reactions,
- sleep problems (insomnia),
- mood swings,
- headache,
- euphoria,
- spinning sensation (vertigo),
- dizziness,
- nausea,
- bloating,
- appetite changes,
- stomach or side pain,
- stomach upset,
- acne,
- scaling or other skin changes,
- a wound that is slow to heal,
- thinning hair,
- bruising or swelling,
- sweating more than usual,
- irregular menstrual periods,
- redness or pain at the injection site, or
- weight gain.
Dosage for Kenalog-40
The usual suggested initial dose of Kenalog-40 is 60 mg, injected deeply into the gluteal muscle. Dosage is usually adjusted within the range of 40 mg to 80 mg, depending upon patient response and duration of relief. However, some patients may be well controlled on doses as low as 20 mg or less. Many doses are based on the patient's response to the medication and can be quite variable.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Kenalog-40?
Kenalog-40 may interact with birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, blood thinners, cyclosporine, digoxin, insulin or oral diabetes medications, isoniazid, rifampin, seizure medications, antibiotics, aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or “live” vaccines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use and all vaccines you recently received.
Kenalog-40 During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Systemically administered corticosteroids appear in human milk and could suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other untoward effects. Caution should be exercised when corticosteroids are administered to a nursing woman. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Corticosteroids like Kenalog-40 should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Infants born to mothers who have received corticosteroids during pregnancy should be carefully observed for signs of hypoadrenalism. Because of potential toxicity, Kenalog-40 use in pediatrics is cautioned.
Additional Information
Our Kenalog-40 (triamcinolone acetonide) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
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.
SLIDESHOW
Could I Be Allergic? Discover Your Allergy Triggers See SlideshowGet emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- (after injection into a joint space) increased pain or swelling, joint stiffness, fever, and general ill feeling;
- blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
- unusual changes in mood or behavior;
- swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;
- stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody or tarry stools, rectal irritation;
- sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body);
- a seizure (convulsions);
- severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears;
- increased pressure inside the skull--severe headaches, ringing in your ears, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, pain behind your eyes; or
- signs of low adrenal gland hormones--flu-like symptoms, headache, depression, weakness, tiredness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, craving salty foods, and feeling light-headed.
Certain side effects may be more likely with long-term use or repeated doses of triamcinolone injection.
Steroids 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 may include:
- skin changes (acne, dryness, redness, bruising, discoloration);
- increased hair growth, or thinning hair;
- nausea, bloating, appetite changes;
- stomach or side pain;
- cough, runny or stuffy nose;
- headache, sleep problems (insomnia);
- a wound that is slow to heal;
- sweating more than usual; or
- changes in your menstrual periods.
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.
QUESTION
Allergies can best be described as: See AnswerSIDE EFFECTS
(listed alphabetically under each subsection)
The following adverse reactions may be associated with corticosteroid therapy:
Allergic reactions
Anaphylaxis including death, angioedema.
Cardiovascular
Bradycardia, cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac enlargement, circulatory collapse, congestive heart failure, fat embolism, hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in premature infants, myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction (see WARNINGS), pulmonary edema, syncope, tachycardia, thromboembolism, thrombophlebitis, vasculitis.
Dermatologic
Acne, allergic dermatitis, cutaneous and subcutaneous atrophy, dry scaly skin, ecchymoses and petechiae, edema, erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, impaired wound healing, increased sweating, lupus erythematosus-like lesions, purpura, rash, sterile abscess, striae, suppressed reactions to skin tests, thin fragile skin, thinning scalp hair, urticaria.
Endocrine
Decreased carbohydrate and glucose tolerance, development of cushingoid state, glycosuria, hirsutism, hypertrichosis, increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetes, manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus, menstrual irregularities, secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness (particularly in times of stress, as in trauma, surgery, or illness), suppression of growth in pediatric patients.
Fluid and electrolyte disturbances
Congestive heart failure in susceptible patients, fluid retention, hypokalemic alkalosis, potassium loss, sodium retention.
Gastrointestinal
Abdominal distention, bowel/bladder dysfunction (after intrathecal administration [see WARNINGS: Neurologic]), elevation in serum liver enzyme levels (usually reversible upon discontinuation), hepatomegaly, increased appetite, nausea, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage, perforation of the small and large intestine (particularly in patients with inflammatory bowel disease), ulcerative esophagitis.
Metabolic
Negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism.
Musculoskeletal
Aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads, calcinosis (following intra-articular or intralesional use), Charcot-like arthropathy, loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, pathologic fracture of long bones, post injection flare (following intra-articular use), steroid myopathy, tendon rupture, vertebral compression fractures.
Neurologic/Psychiatric
Convulsions, depression, emotional instability, euphoria, headache, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema (pseudotumor cerebri) usually following discontinuation of treatment, insomnia, mood swings, neuritis, neuropathy, paresthesia, personality changes, psychiatric disorders, vertigo. Arachnoiditis, meningitis, paraparesis/paraplegia, and sensory disturbances have occurred after intrathecal administration. Spinal cord infarction, paraplegia, quadriplegia, cortical blindness, and stroke (including brainstem) have been reported after epidural administration of corticosteroids (see WARNINGS: Serious Neurologic Adverse Reactions with Epidural Administration and WARNINGS: Neurologic).
Ophthalmic
Exophthalmos, glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, posterior subcapsular cataracts, rare instances of blindness associated with periocular injections. Other: Abnormal fat deposits, decreased resistance to infection, hiccups, increased or decreased motility and number of spermatozoa, malaise, moon face, weight gain.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Kenalog-40 (Triamcinolone Acetonide Injectable Suspension)
© Kenalog-40 Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Kenalog-40 Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.
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