Aristocort

Drug Name

Aristocort (Triamcinolone)

Drug Uses

Aristocort (Triamcinolone) is used for treating a variety of medical conditions, including but not limited to, insufficiency of the adrenal cortex, inflammatory disorders, allergic disorders, and connective tissue disorders. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How Taken

Use Aristocort as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

Take Aristocort by mouth with food.

To reduce side effects, take Aristocort around 8 a.m. in the morning.

Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Do not stop taking Aristocort except on your prescriber's advice.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Aristocort is a corticosteroid. It works by reducing inflammation and modifying the body's immune system.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, consult your prescriber or health care professional.

You may need to miss a dose or take a double dose, depending on your condition and treatment. Do not take double or extra doses without advice.

Storage

Aristocort should be stored at room temperature, 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) and protected from heat, and direct light.

Warnings/Precautions

Do not use Aristocort if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Aristocort;
• you have a fungal infection;
• you are taking mifepristone.

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Aristocort:

Some medical conditions may interact with Aristocort. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding;
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement;
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances;
• if you have or have been recently exposed to a bacterial, fungal, parasitic, ameba, or viral infection, especially measles, chickenpox, shingles, tuberculosis (TB), or herpes simplex of the eye;
• if you have been recently vaccinated, or have had a positive TB skin test;
• if you have heartburn, stomach pain, diarrhea, or intestinal problems (eg, obstructions, perforations, peptic ulcer, recent intestinal surgery);
• if you have a blood coagulation disorder, heart problems, diabetes mellitus, kidney problems, liver disease, an underactive thyroid, unstable joints, or osteoporosis, fractures, or have had a recent heart attack or joint surgery;
• you have unstable emotions, depression, or myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness).

Some medicines may intaract with Aristocort. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), or rifampin because they may decrease Aristocort 's effectiveness;
• Clarithromycin, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), or itraconazole because the risk of side effects, such as nervous system or adrenal gland problems, may be increased;
• Aspirin, mifepristone or ritodrine because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Aristocort.

Possible Side Effects

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects.

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

• bone fractures;
• changes in appetite;
• changes in mood;
• difficulty sleeping;
• headache;
• indigestion;
• nervousness;
• stomach bloating;
• thin, fragile skin.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these severe side effects occur:

• severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue);
• black, tarry stools;
• changes in menstrual periods;
• convulsions;
• fast or irregular heartbeat;
• prolonged sore throat, cold, or fever;
• psychotic behaviors;
• severe nausea or vomiting;
• swelling of feet or legs;
• unusual bruising or bleeding;
• unusual weight gain;
• vision problems;
• vomiting that looks like coffee grounds.

More Information

If you have any questions about Aristocort , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Aristocort is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.

If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is added to bones by cells called osteoblasts and is removed from bones by cells called osteoclasts. Calcium is essential for healthy bones. It is also important for muscle contraction, heart action, nervous system maintenance, and normal blood clotting. Food sources of calcium include dairy foods, some leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and collards, canned salmon, clams, oysters, calcium-fortified foods, and tofu. According to the National Academy of Sciences, adequate intake of calcium is 1,200 milligrams a day (four glasses of milk) for men and women 51 and older, 1,000 milligrams a day for adults 19 through 50, and 1,300 milligrams a day for children 9 through 18. The upper limit for calcium intake is 2.5 grams daily.

Cavities: Holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath enamel. Both layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves reside. Small cavities may not cause pain, and may be unnoticed by the patient. Larger cavities can collect food, and the inner pulp of the affected tooth can become irritated by bacterial toxins, foods that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet - causing toothache.

Naturopathy: A system of therapy based on preventative care, and on the use of heat, water, light, air, and massage as primary therapies for disease. Some naturopaths use no medications, either pharmaceutical or herbal. Some recommend herbal remedies only. A few who are licensed to prescribe may recommend pharmaceuticals in those cases where they feel their use is warranted.

Naturopathy is an American healthcare profession. It was founded in the US as a formal healthcare system at the turn of the 20th century by medical practitioners from various natural therapeutic disciplines. By the early 1900s, more than 20 naturopathic medical schools existed, and naturopathic physicians were licensed in most States. Today there are more than 1,000 licensed naturopathic doctors in the US.

As practiced today, naturopathic medicine integrates traditional natural therapeutics -- including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture, traditional oriental medicine, hydrotherapy, and naturopathic manipulative therapy -- with modern scientific medical diagnostic science and standards of care. The medical research base of naturopathic practice consists of empirical documentation of treatments using case history observations, medical records, and summaries of practitioners' clinical experiences.

At present, the two accredited naturopathic medical schools in the US have active research departments. Naturopathic researchers have investigated the pharmacology and physiological effects of nutritional and natural therapeutic agents, and naturopathic physicians have been active in the investigation of new homeopathic remedies and in the natural treatment of women's health problems. The most recently completed naturopathic study in women's health tested the clinical and endocrine effects of a botanical formula as an alternative to estrogen replacement therapy.

Blood: The familiar red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and other elements. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. Blood functions in two directions: arterial and venous. Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues while venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported to the lungs and kidneys, respectively, for removal from the body.

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is produced primarily by the contraction of the heart muscle. It's measurement is recorded by two numbers. The first (systolic pressure) is measured after the heart contracts and is highest. The second (diastolic pressure) is measured before the heart contracts and lowest. A blood pressure cuff is used to measure the pressure. Elevation of blood pressure is called "hypertension".

Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called "hemispheres."

Disease: Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing normally is subjected to a destructive agent such as the rubella (German measles) virus.

Doctor: In a medical context, any medical professional with an MD, a PhD, or any other doctoral degree. The term doctor is quite nonspecific. A doctor may, for example, be a physician, psychologist, biomedical scientist, dentist, or veterinarian. In a nonmedical context, a professor of history might be addressed as doctor, an eminent theologian might be named a doctor of a church, and a person awarded an honorary doctorate by a college or university might also be called a doctor.

The word "doctor" comes from the Latin "docere" meaning to teach. A doctor was a teacher, especially a learned or authoritative one.