Triamcinolone Acetonide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Triamcinolone Acetonide is a corticosteroid sold in the U.S. under 12 brand and generic names, for adrenal insufficiency, hemolytic anemia and berylliosis. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesUpdated Jul 24, 2026How we research

Key facts

Drug class: Corticosteroid
Treats (across its forms): Adrenal Insufficiency, Hemolytic Anemia and Berylliosis
Available as: Injectable · Spray/Inhaler, metered · Kit · Topical
Sold as: 12 products — Trivaris, Nasacort Hfa and Zilretta, and others
Prescription?: Both Rx and OTC forms
Generic available?: Yes

How Zilretta is dosed

From the FDA label for Zilretta (application NDA208845). Other triamcinolone acetonide products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

32 mg (5 mL) administered as a single intra-articular injection in the knee. ( 2.1 ) See Instructions for Use (IFU) for instructions on reconstitution of ZILRETTA with the supplied diluent. ( 2.2 ) It is normal for some residue to be left behind on the vial walls after withdrawing the suspension. ( 2.2 ) ZILRETTA is NOT substitutable with other formulations of injectable triamcinolone acetonide. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Important Dosage and Administration Information ZILRETTA is administered as a single intra-articular extended-release injection of triamcinolone acetonide, to deliver 32 mg (5 mL). ZILRETTA is for intra-articular use only. Do NOT administer by the following routes: epidural, intrathecal, intravenous, intraocular, intramuscular, intradermal, subcutaneous. ZILRETTA is not suitable for use in small joints, such as the hand. The efficacy and safety of repeat administration of ZILRETTA have not been demonstrated [see Adverse Reactions (6) and Nonclinical Toxicology (13.2) ] . The efficacy and safety of ZILRETTA for management of osteoarthritis pain of shoulder and hip have not been evaluated. 2.2 Preparation and Administration of Intra-Articular Suspension Refer to the Instructions for Use for directions on the preparation and administration of ZILRETTA. ZILRETTA is supplied as a single-dose kit containing a vial of ZILRETTA microsphere powder, a vial of sterile diluent, and a…

Everything below is the FDA label for Zilretta (kit). Triamcinolone Acetonide is also sold as injectable, spray/inhaler, metered and topical, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Zilretta side effects

The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling. Serious Neurologic Adverse Reactions with Epidural and Intrathecal Administration [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Joint Infection and Damage [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Increased Risk of Infections [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Alterations in Endocrine Function [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Cardiovascular Effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Renal Effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Increased Intraocular Pressure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Gastrointestinal Perforation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] Alternations in Bone Density [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ] Behavioral and Mood Disturbances [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ] Most commonly reported adverse reactions (incidence ≥1%) in clinical studies include sinusitis, cough, and contusions. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-844-353-9466 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates…

Who shouldn’t take Zilretta

ZILRETTA is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to triamcinolone acetonide, corticosteroids or any components of the product [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16) ] . Patients with hypersensitivity to triamcinolone acetonide or any component of the product. ( 4 )

Zilretta drug interactions

No drug-drug interaction studies have been conducted with ZILRETTA. Table 3 contains drug interactions associated with systemic corticosteroids. Table 3: Drug Interactions Associated with Systemic Corticosteroids Aminoglutethimide Aminoglutethimide may lead to a loss of corticosteroid-induced adrenal suppression. Amphotericin B injection and potassium-depleting agents When corticosteroids are administered concomitantly with potassium-depleting agents (i.e., amphotericin B, diuretics), observe patients closely for development of hypokalemia. There have been cases reported in which concomitant use of amphotericin B and hydrocortisone was followed by cardiac enlargement and congestive heart failure. Antibiotics Macrolide antibiotics have been reported to cause a significant decrease in corticosteroid clearance. Anticholinesterases Concomitant use of anticholinesterase agents and corticosteroids may produce severe weakness in patients with myasthenia gravis. If possible, withdraw anticholinesterase agents at least 24 hours before initiating corticosteroid therapy. Anticoagulants, oral Coadministration of corticosteroids and warfarin usually results in inhibition of response to warfarin, although there have been some conflicting reports. Therefore, monitor coagulation indices frequently to maintain the desired anticoagulant effect. Antidiabetics Because corticosteroids may increase blood glucose concentrations, dosage adjustments of antidiabetic agents may be required. Antitubercular drugs Serum concentrations of isoniazid may be decreased. CYP 3A4 inducers (e.g., barbiturates, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and rifampin) Drugs which induce hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activity may enhance metabolism of corticosteroids and require that the dosage of corticosteroid be increased. CYP 3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole) Ketoconazole, a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, has been reported to decrease the metabolism of certain corticosteroids by up to 60% leading to an increased risk of corticosteroid side effects. Cholestyramine Cholestyramine may increase the clearance of corticosteroids. Cyclosporine Increased activity of both cyclosporine and corticosteroids may occur when the two are used concurrently. Convulsions have been reported with this concurrent use. Digitalis glycosides Patients on digitalis glycosides may be at increased risk of arrhythmias due to hypokalemia. Estrogens, including oral contraceptives Estrogens may decrease the hepatic metabolism of certain corticosteroids, thereby increasing their effect. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Concomitant use of aspirin (or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and corticosteroids increases the risk of gastrointestinal side effects. Aspirin should be used cautiously in conjunction with corticosteroids in hypoprothrombinemia. The clearance of salicylates may be increased with concurrent use of corticosteroids. Skin tests Corticosteroids may suppress reactions to allergy related skin tests. Vaccines Patients on prolonged corticosteroid therapy may exhibit a diminished response to toxoids and live or inactivated vaccines due to inhibition of antibody response. Corticosteroids may also potentiate the replication of some organisms contained in live attenuated vaccines. If possible, defer routine administration of vaccines or toxoids until corticosteroid therapy is discontinued.

Every triamcinolone acetonide product we track (12)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Triamcinolone Acetonide products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Pharmacy pays
1	Trivaris	72/100	Prescription	Injectable	No data	—	View →
2	Nasacort Hfa	70/100	Prescription	Spray/Inhaler	No data	—	View →
3	Zilretta	70/100	Prescription	Kit	No data	—	View →
4	Allernaze	Not yet rated	Prescription	Spray/Inhaler	No data	—	View →
5	Kenalog	Not yet rated	Prescription	Topical	No data	—	View →
6	Kenalog in Orabase	Not yet rated	Prescription	Topical	No data	—	View →
7	Kenalog-10	Not yet rated	Prescription	Injectable	No data	—	View →
8	Nasacort	Not yet rated	Prescription	Spray/Inhaler	No data	—	View →
9	Nasacort Allergy 24 Hour	Not yet rated	Over-the-counter	Spray/Inhaler	No data	—	View →
10	Triamcinolone Acetonide	Not yet rated	Prescription	Topical	No data	—	View →

Combination products containing triamcinolone acetonide

A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.

Triamcinolone Acetonide recalls

From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.

How long triamcinolone acetonide keeps

No triamcinolone acetonide label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.

Does triamcinolone acetonide expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labels

What people report to the FDA about triamcinolone acetonide

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 23,526 reports naming triamcinolone acetonide, and the FDA flagged 55% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:

pruritus2,352 reports
rash2,332 reports
fatigue1,931 reports
nausea1,835 reports
diarrhoea1,605 reports
vomiting1,592 reports
headache1,504 reports
arthralgia1,402 reports

Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean triamcinolone acetonide caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.

Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 26, 2026.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Zilretta?

ZILRETTA (triamcinolone acetonide extended-release injectable suspension) is a microsphere formulation of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid, to be administered by intra-articular injection. ZILRETTA is formulated in 75:25 poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres with a nominal drug load of 25% (w/w) and is provided as a sterile white to off-white powder. ZILRETTA is prepared with a supplied diluent containing an isotonic, sterile, aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl; 0.9% w/w), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC; 0.5% w/w), polysorbate-80 (0.1% w/w) and with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) as pH adjusters, as required to form a 5 mL sterile suspension intended for intra-articular injection.

What kind of drug is triamcinolone acetonide?

The FDA classifies triamcinolone acetonide as a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids mimic the body's natural stress hormone cortisol: they enter cells and bind a glucocorticoid receptor that switches off genes for inflammatory chemicals, calming swelling, redness, and an overactive immune response. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take triamcinolone acetonide with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run triamcinolone acetonide against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is triamcinolone acetonide sold under?

We track 12 triamcinolone acetonide-containing products in the U.S.: Trivaris, Nasacort Hfa, Zilretta, Allernaze, Kenalog, Kenalog in Orabase, Kenalog-10 and Nasacort, and 4 more. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does triamcinolone acetonide come in?

Across the brands we track, triamcinolone acetonide is currently marketed as injectable, spray/inhaler, metered, kit and topical, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic triamcinolone acetonide?

Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic triamcinolone acetonide product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.

Has triamcinolone acetonide been recalled?

The FDA's Enforcement database lists at least 5 recall records whose product description mentions triamcinolone acetonide. The most recent: Testosterone / Triamcinolone Acetonide 25MG/5MCG (Oct 14, 2025). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.

Cite this page

APA: pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Triamcinolone Acetonide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/triamcinolone-acetonide
MLA: “Triamcinolone Acetonide: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/triamcinolone-acetonide.

We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Read the full FDA label for triamcinolone acetonide on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.