What is triamcinolone (ophthalmic)?
Triamcinolone ophthalmic is a steroid. It prevents the release of substances in the body that
cause inflammation.
Triamcinolone ophthalmic (for the eyes) is injected into the eye to treat inflammation caused
by disease or injury. Triamcinolone ophthalmic is usually given after steroid eye drops have been used
without successful treatment of symptoms.
Triamcinolone ophthalmic is also used during a certain type of eye surgery.
Triamcinolone ophthalmic may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication
guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking triamcinolone (ophthalmic)?
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to triamcinolone, or if you have a
fungal infection anywhere in your body.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive
this medication. Before receiving triamcinolone ophthalmic, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any
drugs, or if you have:
-
herpes infection of your eye;
-
eye conditions such as cataract or glaucoma;
-
diabetes;
-
high blood pressure, congestive heart failure;
-
any type of bacterial, fungal, or viral infection (including
tuberculosis);
-
a thyroid disorder;
-
a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis;
-
diverticulitis, stomach or intestinal ulcer, or recent stomach
surgery; or
-
if you have recently had a heart attack.
FDA pregnancy category D. Triamcinolone ophthalmic can cause harm
to an unborn baby or cause birth defects.
Before you receive triamcinolone ophthalmic,
tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your
doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
Triamcinolone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not receive this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
This medication can decrease bone formation, which could lead to osteoporosis, especially with
long-term use. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk of bone loss while receiving
triamcinolone ophthalmic.
Steroids can affect growth in children. Talk with your doctor if you think your child is not
growing at a normal rate while using this medication.
How should I take triamcinolone (ophthalmic)?
Triamcinolone ophthalmic is given as an injection into your eye. Your doctor will use a
medicine to numb your eye before giving you the injection. You will receive this injection in your
doctor's office or other clinic setting.
For at least 30 minutes after your injection, your eyes will be checked periodically to make sure
the injection has not caused any side effects.
Long-term use of steroids can cause harmful effects on the eyes, such as glaucoma or cataracts.
If you receive triamcinolone ophthalmic for longer than 6 weeks, your doctor may want you to have
regular eye exams.
Steroids can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier
for you to get sick from being around others who are ill, or from bacteria in a skin wound. Steroids can
also slow the healing of skin wounds. Use caution to prevent illness, infection, or injury.
Your doctor may instruct you to limit your salt intake while you are receiving triamcinolone
ophthalmic. You may also need to take potassium supplements. Follow your doctor's instructions.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any
doctor who treats you that you are being treated with triamcinolone ophthalmic.
What happens if I miss a dose of triamcinolone (ophthalmic)?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your injection.
Where can I get more information about triamcinolone (ophthalmic)?
Your pharmacist has information about triamcinolone (ophthalmic) written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of triamcinolone (ophthalmic)?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
problems with your vision, blurred vision, or seeing halos around
lights;
-
eye swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting or
drainage (may be signs of infection);
-
large red or purple spots on your skin;
-
fast, slow, or uneven heart rate;
-
feeling short of breath, swelling in your hands or feet;
-
increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision,
chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats);
-
ringing in your ears, dizziness, nausea, vision problems,
pain behind your eyes;
-
severe depression, changes in mood or behavior, seizures
(convulsions); or
-
severe pain in your upper stomach.
Less serious side effects may include:
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mild eye discomfort;
-
headaches, back aches, weakness, confusion;
-
bloating, appetite changes, weight gain;
-
changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in
your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist), roundness in your face, ;
-
increased acne or facial hair;
-
menstrual problems (in women), impotence or loss of
interest in sex (in men);
-
dry skin, thinning skin, changes in skin color;
-
bruising, sweating more than usual; or
-
a wound that is slow to heal.
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.
What is the most important information I should know about triamcinolone (ophthalmic)?
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to triamcinolone, or if you have a
fungal infection anywhere in your body.
Do not use triamcinolone ophthalmic
without telling your doctor if you
are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you
become pregnant during treatment.
Before receiving triamcinolone ophthalmic, tell your doctor if you have any type of bacterial,
fungal, or viral infection (including tuberculosis). Also tell your doctor if you have cataracts or
glaucoma, herpes infection of your eye, diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, a thyroid
disorder, myasthenia gravis, a stomach or intestinal disorder, or a history of recent heart attack.
Before you receive any vaccine, talk with the doctor who is treating you with triamcinolone
ophthalmic. Some vaccines may not work as well or could cause harmful side effects during treatment
with steroid medicine.
Steroids can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections Avoid being near people
who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to
chicken pox or measles.
There are many other medicines that can interact with triamcinolone
ophthalmic.
Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you
use. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other
healthcare provider who treats you.
What should I avoid while taking triamcinolone (ophthalmic)?
Do not receive a smallpox vaccine or any other "live" vaccine if you are being treated
long-term with triamcinolone ophthalmic. Some vaccines may not work as well during treatment with
steroid medicine at certain doses. Some vaccines may even cause dangerous side effects when used
during steroid treatment. Before you receive any vaccine, talk with the doctor who is treating you with
triamcinolone ophthalmic.
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive
treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal
in people who are using steroids.
What other drugs will affect triamcinolone (ophthalmic)?
Many drugs can interact with triamcinolone. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you
are using:
-
amphotericin B (Fungizone, AmBisome, Abelcet);
-
birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy;
-
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
-
cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran);
-
cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf, Sandimmune);
-
digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
-
a diuretic (water pill);
-
insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth;
-
isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);
-
rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate),
or rifapentine (Priftin);
-
an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin
(E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), or telithromycin (Ketek);
-
an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox),
ketoconazole (Nizoral), or voriconazole (Vfend);
-
aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren),
etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), piroxicam (Feldene), and others;
-
heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem
(Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release), or verapamil
(Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan);
-
HIV/AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz),
delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan),
nevirapine (Viramune), saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase), ritonavir (Norvir), and others;
-
medications to treat dementia, such as donepezil (Aricept),
rivastigmine (Exelon), galantamine (Razadyne), tacrine (Cognex); or
-
seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol,
Tegretol), phenobarbital (Solfoton), phenytoin (Dilantin), and others.
This list is not complete and there are many other
medicines that can interact with triamcinolone ophthalmic.
Tell your doctor about all the
prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal
products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling
your doctor. Keep a list of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other
healthcare provider who treats you.
What happens if I have an overdose of triamcinolone (ophthalmic)?
