- Used to prevent the breathing difficulties of asthma
- Used to treat skin conditions like psoriasis and lichen planus
- Used to treat colitis, arthritis and lupus
- Also used to treat macular edema
- Used to relieve the symptoms of leukemia and lymphoma
Kenalog-40 is the brand name of the generic drug Triamcinolone and it is manufactured by Bristol Myers-Squibb. It is a glucocorticoid which is available as an injectible of 1 mL each.
Indications
This drug is used as an injection to help prevent asthma symptoms as well as in other ailments and conditions like lupus, arthritis, psoriasis and colitis. It is a synthetic corticosteroid which has an anti-inflammatory action. It is also used to treat certain eye and renal diseases, blood disorders, allergic rhinitis and rheumatic disorders.
Action
Kenalog-40 is a steroid and it is used as an injection intra-muscularly and intra-articularly. It helps the body to keep inflammation at bay by preventing the release of certain substances that cause inflammation.
Side Effects
There are a few people who could be allergic to this drug and while most of the reactions will be mild and will pass in a couple of weeks at most, there could be a few cases where the reaction could be severe and one needs immediate medical care if this happens. There could be dry mouth, sore or hoarse throat, insomnia or changes in the appetite or bowel movement. There could also be more serious side effects like irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, bloody stools, seizures, difficulty breathing, mood swings, pigmentation problems, cracking and fissuring of the skin, bone density problems and depression.
Caution
Tell your doctor everything about your medical history – about what illnesses you’ve had, what you have now, what medication you are taking, what vitamins and supplements you take and whether there is any family history of what you have. He will want to know about drug, tobacco or alcohol usage – do be frank with him because it will help with his prescription.
Contraindications
The doctor must know if you have a fungal infection anywhere on your body because the drug is contraindicated in this case. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid this drug unless it is absolutely essential for their health. There could be reactions with certain other drugs so you should make sure you keep your doctor informed about all the medication you are taking. Steroids tend to cause a drop in your immunity so you should be cautious about going too near people with infectious diseases. If you meet someone with chicken pox or measles, you need to tell your doctor immediately as these infections could be dangerous. If you are under stress or do succumb to any illness, your doctor might have to increase the dosage. Do not change dosages unless you get a go-ahead for your doctor and do not stop this drug suddenly. Make sure you do not get a live vaccine while you are on this drug. You would be wise to carry a medical tag that says you are on this steroid in case there is an emergency.