Triamcinolone, Topical
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Triamcinolone, Topical during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Triamcinolone, Topical for pets. (trye-am-sin-ohe-lone)
Description:
This is a steroid medicine used on the skin. It is used to help with skin irritation caused by allergies.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Genesis®
- Medalone®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals:
- A 0.015% spray; it may also come in other strengths as part of products that combine more than one ingredient.
- For people:
- Ointment, cream, lotion, and spray in 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.5% strengths.
This handout does not include every piece of information that exists for this medicine, and it has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. It is meant to address common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you still have questions or need additional details about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information – Triamcinolone, Topical for pets
- This medicine is approved for dogs to help with itching, irritated skin, and skin rashes linked to allergies.
- Do not use it near your pet’s eyes.
- After you put it on, keep your pet from licking or cleaning the treated area for at least 20 to 30 minutes.
- If your pet is going to have allergy testing, stop using this medicine at least 2 weeks before the test.
- If a pregnant person is applying this product to an animal, they should use disposable gloves and should not breathe in the mist from the spray.
- Throw away the container and any unused product in the regular trash. Do not wash it down a sink or drain.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines may affect this one. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also share how much you give and when 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 problems your animal has had, including side effects such as 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?
Your animal should start to feel relief within 1 to 2 hours. After that, you should see improvement in the signs you noticed.
This medicine has effects that last a moderate amount of time. This means the effects can 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 concerns that apply to your animal.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
- That have an allergy to triamcinolone or to propylene glycol
- That have tuberculosis affecting the skin
- That are used for breeding or that are pregnant or nursing
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in patients:
- That weigh less than 8 lb
- That are younger than 1 year old
- That have diabetes mellitus (meaning sugar diabetes)
- That have Cushing’s disease (also called hyperadrenocorticism)
- That are also taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (for example, carprofen, meloxicam, robenacoxib)
If any of these situations apply to your animal, speak with your veterinarian about the possible risks compared with the possible benefits.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If any of these signs are strong, get worse, or do not go away, contact your veterinarian.
- Increased appetite, thirst, and need to urinate
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Discomfort with application
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you see any of these signs, stop using the medicine and contact your veterinarian right away.
- Stomach or intestinal ulcers/perforation/bleeding, which can cause decreased appetite, black tarry stools, bloody vomit (coffee ground appearance), or low energy level.
If this medicine is used for several weeks or longer, watch for weight gain, a pot-bellied look, changes in the skin or coat, hair loss, or weakness.
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 instructions.
How should this medication be given?
To get the best results, use this medicine exactly the way your veterinarian instructed.
- Read the prescription label and the package details so you are sure you are using it correctly.
- Put a thin layer on the affected area or areas, following your veterinarian’s directions.
- Do not use more than the amount that was prescribed.
- Keep the spray out of your animal’s eyes.
- If applying this medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for advice on how to give the dose and how to make medication time less stressful for you and your animal.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you know how long your veterinarian wants you to keep using it.
- You may need prescription refills before the full treatment period is finished.
- If you are thinking about stopping this medicine, talk with your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to continue.
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 close to the time for the next scheduled dose, do not give the missed dose. Give only the next dose at the regular time.
- Then continue with 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 in the original prescription container.
- Store it at room temperature, from 59°F to 86°F, and keep it away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist made a special custom product (a compounded form) for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Keep it out of reach of children and away from other animals.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- Because this medicine can soak into skin, everyone should use gloves when putting it on.
- Pregnant people and anyone who is allergic to this medicine should take extra care to avoid contact.
- Because this medicine has a higher chance of causing birth defects, pregnant people should wear disposable gloves when giving doses or handling the medicine, and they should not breathe in the spray mist.
- If skin or eyes come into contact with powder or liquid that contains this medicine, wash the skin or rinse the eyes right away and thoroughly.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not flush this medicine in a toilet and do not pour it into a sink.
- If your community has a medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is less appealing to children and animals and not recognizable to people who might search through trash.
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it will not leak, and then place it in the regular trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- If you have more 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.”
Related Medication Information
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