Triamcinolone Inhalation Description

Generic Name : TRIAMCINOLONE INHALATION

Pronunciation : (trye an sin' oh lone)

Trade Name(s) : Kenacort, Ledercort

Why it is prescribed: Triamcinolone, a corticosteroid, is similar to a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands. It is used to manage severe chronic bronchial asthma. Triamcinolone inhalation is not used for the rapid relief of breathing problems. If you do not have another drug inhaler for prompt relief of breathing difficulty, ask your doctor to prescribe one.

When it is to be taken: Triamcinolone usually is inhaled on a regular schedule three or four times a day. Use it at evenly spaced intervals between the time you wake up in the morning and the time you go to bed at night. For example, if your doctor tells you to use it three times a day, use it at 7 a.m., 3 p.m., and 11 p.m. Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully. If your doctor has prescribed a bronchodilator, use it several minutes before you use your triamcinolone inhaler so that triamcinolone can penetrate deep into your lungs.

How it should be taken: Triamcinolone inhalation comes in an aerosol for oral inhalation with a special inhaler. Your prescription label tells you how many inhalations to take at each dose.
To use the inhaler, follow the patient instructions that come with it and these steps:
1. Shake the inhaler well.
2. Breathe out as completely as possible through your nose while keeping your mouth shut.
3. Place the mouthpiece well into your mouth, past your front teeth. Do not close your lips around the mouthpiece.
4. Take a slow, deep breath through the mouthpiece and, at the same time, press down on the metal canister to spray the medication into your mouth. Be sure that the mist goes into your throat and is not blocked by your teeth or tongue. If you give this treatment to a young child, hold the child's nose closed to be sure that the medication goes into the child's throat.
5. Hold your breath for as long as possible, remove the inhaler from your mouth, and exhale slowly through your nose or mouth. If you are to take two inhalations, wait one minute and shake the inhaler well before taking the second inhalation.
6. After each treatment, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash.
7. The inhaler is designed to give 240 inhalations; do not use it for more inhalations because you may receive less than the full dose.

Special Instruction :
1. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.
2. Triamcinolone must be used regularly to be effective. However, do not use more of it, do not use if more often, and do not use it for a longer period than your doctor has directed. If your symptoms persist or if your condition worens, contact your doctor.
3. Tell every doctor, dentist, and surgeon who treats you that you take triamcinolone.
4. Special dietary instructions should be followed. Your doctor may instruct you to follow a low-sodium, low-salt, potassium-rich, or high-protein diet. Follow these directions.
5. If you forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. If you remember a missed dose when it is time for you to take another, take it immediately and take the remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. Do not take a double dose.

Side Effects :
1. Hoarseness, dry or irritated throat or mouth. Rinse your mouth with water and swallow it after each treatment.
2. Increased wheezing: cough; creamy white; curdlike patches on your tongue and in your mouth; mouth sores. Contact your doctor.
3. Skin irritation, itching, or swelling. Contact your doctor at once.
4. Long-term therapy problems: weight gain; swollen feet, ankles, and lower legs; muscle pain and weakness; eye pain; vision problems; puffy skin; a cold or infection that lasts a long time. Contact your doctor.

Other Precautions :
1. Before taking triamcinolone, tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially aspirin, arthritis medication, diuretics, estrogen e.g., birth-control pills, phenytoin, rifampin, and phenobarbital.
2. Do not have a vaccination, other immunization, or any skin test while you are taking triamcinolone unless your doctor specially tells you that you may.
3. Before using triamcinolone, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think that you may be pregnant, wish to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
4. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor.
5. Before you take this drug, tell your doctor your entire medical history, particularly if you have liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart disease; an under active thyroid gland; high blood pressure; mental illness; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; seizures; or a history of ulcers.
6. 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 can make your stomach and intestines more susceptible to the irritating effects of alcohol, aspirin, and certain arthritis medications, increasing your risk of ulcers.
7. Report any injuries or signs of infection that occur during treatment. If your sputum thickens or changes color from clear white to yellow, green, or gray, contact your doctor; these changes may be signs of an infection.
8. If you are switching from oral triamcinolone to triamcinolone inhalation and have an injury, infection, or severe asthma attack, take a full dose of oral triamcinolone and contact your doctor for further instructions.
9. If you use a bronchodilator as directed during an asthma attack and your breathing does not improve, contact your doctor. Your may need to take oral triamcinolone in addition to triamcinolone inhalation.

Storage Conditions :
1. Keep this medication out of the reach of children.
2. Store it at room temperature, away from heat or an open flame.
3. Do not puncture your inhaler.
4. Do not dispose of it in a fire or incinerator.