Triamcinolone
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Triamcinolone during a consultation by Dr Noor. Triamcinolone for pets in Perth.”
(trye-am-sin-oh-lone)
Description:
This medicine is a glucocorticoid agent, meaning it is a type of steroid medicine.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Vetalog®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals:
- Triamcinolone 0.5 mg and 1.5 mg tablets that are taken by mouth.
- For humans:
- It also comes as inhalers used by mouth or nose, and as creams, lotions, and ointments put on the skin.
This handout does not include every piece of information that exists about this medicine. It is meant to address common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- Give the by-mouth forms together with food.
- The aim is to use the smallest amount that works, and to use it for as little time as possible.
- This medicine can cause many side effects (listed later), especially if it is used for a long time. The side effects seen most often are increased hunger, increased drinking, and needing to urinate more.
- In dogs, this medicine can lead to sores in the stomach or intestines, a hole (tear) in the stomach or intestines, or bleeding. If your animal will not eat, or you notice a high fever, black sticky stools, or vomit with blood, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Do not suddenly stop giving this medicine unless your veterinarian tells you how to do it, because serious problems can happen.
How is this medication useful? Triamcinolone for pets
In animals, triamcinolone may be used to treat hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease), which is when the body does not make enough natural steroid hormone. It may also be used to reduce swelling and irritation, to lower the body’s immune response, and as an antineoplastic (anticancer) medicine. The amount given is different depending on which of these reasons it is being used for.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how this medicine works in your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the following so you can make the best choices together.
- Other medicines can change how this medicine works. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share the amount you give and the time you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had treatment for the same problem in the past, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medicine side effects your animal has had, including allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You should expect this medicine to start helping your animal feel better within 1 to 2 hours. After that, you should see improvement in your animal’s signs.
This medicine has a moderate length of action. This means its effects may continue for a few days. The helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working as well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your animal.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
If your animal has any of these conditions, talk to your veterinarian about the possible risks compared with the possible benefits.
- That are allergic to it.
- With a systemic fungal infection (unless using it during an Addisonian crisis).
- With viral infections.
- That have stomach or intestinal ulcers.
- With untreated Cushing’s disease (too much stress hormone being made in the body).
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in patients:
- That are receiving other drugs that can cause stomach ulcers, including aspirin or NSAIDs (eg, carprofen, flunixin, meloxicam).
- That have diabetes.
- That have cardiovascular or heart disease.
- That are pregnant.
- That have a bacterial infection.
- That are young and growing. These medicines can affect (slow or stop) growth when used for a long time.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
You do not need to be extremely worried if you notice these, unless they are strong, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
- Greater appetite, thirst, and need to urinate.
- Vomiting, diarrhea.
- Mild changes in behavior.
- Panting more than usual (in dogs).
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
- Sores in the stomach or intestines, a hole (tear) in the stomach or intestines, or bleeding. If your animal stops eating, or you notice a high fever, black sticky stools, or vomit with blood (may look like coffee grounds), contact your veterinarian immediately.
- If the medicine has been used for several weeks or longer: weight gain, a pot-bellied look, changes in the skin or coat, hair loss, or weakness. These can mean the amount being given is too high. If you notice any of these, contact your veterinarian.
- Very increased drinking and urinating along with a very increased appetite but with weight loss. These signs are often seen with this medicine, but they can also be a sign of diabetes.
- Major behavior changes (for example, aggression or threatening actions). If this happens, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Low energy can be a sign of infection. When triamcinolone is used at high amounts, it can lower immune function, which can make patients more likely to get infections. Tiredness may be the only sign you notice because the usual signs that point to infection (such as fever, or urinating often or with pain) can be hidden by this medicine. If you are worried your animal may have an infection, contact your veterinarian immediately.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
If you see an overdose happen, or you think it may have happened, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center for advice.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work as intended, give it exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed it. It is a good habit to read the prescription label so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- Give this medicine with food. This can reduce the chance of vomiting after a dose and may also help lower the chance of stomach sores or bleeding.
- Triamcinolone is commonly given in the morning for dogs and horses, and in the evening for cats. This timing more closely matches their natural hormone cycles.
- Your veterinarian may direct you to taper the dose, meaning the amount is higher at the start and then slowly lowered over time. If you are unsure about the amount or the schedule, ask your veterinarian or pharmacist.
- If you are using a liquid form, measure it with care. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special measuring spoons or syringes.
- This medicine can taste very bitter. If giving it is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas to make dosing easier and to reduce stress during medicine time.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it. You may need refills before the full course is finished.
- Before you stop this medicine, speak with your veterinarian, because there may be important reasons to continue.
- If your animal has been taking this medicine for a while, it is very important not to stop it suddenly, because serious side effects could happen.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, do not give the missed one. Instead, give the next dose at the regular time.
- After that, go back to the normal schedule.
- Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine at room temperature, away from light, and in the original prescription container or in an approved pill reminder container.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a special compounded form for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine. Wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet or pour it into a sink drain.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option, combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unattractive to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching trash. Put the mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it will not leak, and then place it in the regular trash.
- Do not keep extra medicine for later use, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- While your animal is taking this medicine, your veterinarian will need to do regular checkups and blood tests. Do not skip these follow-up visits.
- If your animal is receiving high doses of triamcinolone, vaccines may not work well. Talk with your veterinarian about how to keep your animal protected while it is on this medicine.
- If you visit a different veterinarian than usual, make sure you tell them your dog is taking this medicine.
- Dogs that need surgery, or dogs under stress from injury or illness, may need extra glucocorticoid medicines. This medicine can also change the results of some lab tests.
- This medicine may not be permitted in some animal competitions. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while this medicine is being given.
- If your animal is going to have allergy testing, your veterinarian will tell you when to stop this medicine so it does not affect the test results.
- If you have any other questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”