| Why
is Aristocort prescribed?
Aristocort, a corticosteroid, is similar to a natural hormone
produced by your adrenal glands. It often is used to replace this
chemical when your body does not make enough of it. It relieves
inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, and pain) and is used to
treat certain forms of arthritis; skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid,
and intestinal disorders (e.g., colitis); severe allergies; and
asthma. Aristocort also is used to treat certain types of cancer.
Triamcinolone
is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist
for more information.
How
should Aristocort be used?
Aristocort comes as a tablet and syrup to be taken by mouth.
Your doctor will prescribe a dosing schedule that is best for
you. Follow the directions on your label carefully,
and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not
understand.
Do
not stop taking Aristocort without talking to your doctor. Stopping
the drug abruptly can cause loss of appetite, upset stomach, vomiting,
drowsiness, confusion, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain,
peeling skin, and weight loss. If you take large doses for a long
time, your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually to
allow your body to adjust before stopping the drug completely.
Watch for these side effects if you are gradually decreasing your
dose and after you stop taking the tablets or oral liquid, even
if you switch to an inhalation. If these problems occur, call
your doctor immediately. You may need to increase your dose of
tablets or liquid temporarily or start taking them again.
Take
Aristocort exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it
or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Aristocort
: Full Prescribing Information
| Aristocort's
Price List |
| |
| |
Brand Name |
Generic Name |
Strength |
Manufac
turer |
Quantity |
US$ |
|
|
|
Aristocort Cream
(brand) |
Triamcinolone
acetonide |
0.02 % |
Wyeth-Ayerst |
15 gm x 3 tubes |
27.00 |
|
Aristocort A Cream
(brand ) |
Triamcinolone
acetonide |
0.1 % |
Wyeth-Ayerst |
15 gm x 3 tubes |
27.00 |
|
What
special precautions should I follow?
Before
taking aristocort, --
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Aristocort,
aspirin, tartrazine (a yellow dye in some processed foods and
drugs), or any other drugs.
-- tell your doctor and pharmacist what
medications you are taking, especially anticoagulants ('blood
thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), arthritis medications,
aspirin, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin),
diuretics ('water pills'), estrogen (Premarin), ketoconazole (Nizoral),
oral contraceptives, phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin
(Rifadin), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins.
-- if you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin), do
not take Aristocort without talking to your doctor.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver, kidney, intestinal,
or heart disease; diabetes; an underactive thyroid gland; high
blood pressure; mental illness; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis;
herpes eye infection; seizures; tuberculosis (TB); or ulcers.
-- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant,
or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Aristocort,
call your doctor.
-- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the
doctor or dentist that you are taking Aristocort.
-- 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. Aristocort makes your stomach
and intestines more susceptible to the irritating effects of alcohol,
aspirin, and certain arthritis medications. This effect increases
your risk of ulcers.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
When you start to take Aristocort, ask your doctor what to do
if you forget a dose. Write down these instructions so that you
can refer to them later.
If
you take Aristocort once a day, take the missed dose as soon as
you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose,
skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What
side effects can Aristocort cause?
Although side effects from Aristocort are not common, they can
occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or
do not go away:
-
upset stomach
- stomach irritation
- vomiting
- headache
- dizziness
- insomnia
- restlessness
- depression
- anxiety
- acne
- increased hair growth
- easy bruising
- irregular or absent menstrual periods
If
you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor
immediately:
-
skin rash
- swollen face, lower legs, or ankles
- vision problems
- cold or infection that lasts a long time
- muscle weakness
- black or tarry stool
What storage conditions are needed for
Aristocort?
Keep Triamcinolone in the container it came in, tightly closed,
and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and
away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw
away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk
to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
What
other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.
Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response
to Aristocort. Checkups are especially important for children
because Aristocort can slow bone growth.
Carry
an identification card that indicates that you may need to take
supplementary doses (write down the full dose you took before
gradually decreasing it) of Aristocort during periods of stress
(injuries, infections, and severe asthma attacks). Ask your pharmacist
or doctor how to obtain this card. List your name, medical problems,
drugs and dosages, and doctor's name and telephone number on the
card.
Triamcinolone
makes you more susceptible to illnesses. If you are exposed to
chicken pox, measles, or tuberculosis (TB) while taking Aristocort,
call your doctor. Do not have a vaccination, other immunization,
or any skin test while you are taking Aristocort unless your doctor
tells you that you may.
Report
any injuries or signs of infection (fever, sore throat, pain during
urination, and muscle aches) that occur during treatment.
Your
doctor may instruct you to weigh yourself every day. Report any
unusual weight gain.
If
your sputum (the matter you cough up during an asthma attack)
thickens or changes color from clear white to yellow, green, or
gray, call your doctor; these changes may be signs of an infection.
If
you have diabetes, Aristocort may increase your blood sugar level.
If you monitor your blood sugar (glucose) at home, test your blood
or urine more frequently than usual. Call your doctor if your
blood sugar is high or if sugar is present in your urine; your
dose of diabetes medication and your diet may need to be changed.
Do
not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist
any questions you have.
Aristocort
: Full Prescribing Information |