Triamcinolone Acetonide (injection)
Drug Name(s): Kenalog, Zilretta, generic
Class: Corticosteroids
Triamcinolone acetonide injections generally are used as short-term, add-on therapy to manage flares in gout, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other joint inflammation.
Zilretta is a longer-acting formulation of the drug used to treat knee osteoarthritis. It is used only in a joint and is not interchangeable with other types of triamcinolone.
Dosage
Form(s): liquid or powder
A single local injection of 2.5 mg to 5 mg for smaller joints and from 5 mg to 15 mg for larger joints is frequently sufficient.
Several injections may be needed for adequate relief of symptoms, but Zilretta is intended to be used only once.
Special Instructions
Injections are given in a doctor’s office by a healthcare professional.
For Zilretta, powder is diluted for extended-release form.
Your doctor may use a needle to remove some of the joint fluid or inject a local anesthetic before injecting the drug into the joint.
Relevant Links:
Potential Side Effects
Injection site pain and swelling, weight gain, fluid retention, sleep disturbance, sinusitis, cough, bruising
Be Aware
Before having an injection, let your doctor know if you have had a chronic infection, including tuberculosis; idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura; high blood pressure or a recent heart attack; cataracts or glaucoma; kidney or liver disease; osteoporosis; herpes infection of the eye; joint infection; a parasitic infection; or peptic ulcers.
Do not receive a live vaccine while using this drug.
Tell your doctor if you are or may become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
