What Kenalog IM Injection is and what it is used for ?

The name of this medicine is Kenalog IM Injection. Each injection contains triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg/ml as the active ingredient. Triamcinolone acetonide belongs to a group of medicine called corticosteroids (steroids). 

 

Within PJP Aesthetics Kenalog is solely used for the relief from symptoms of Hayfever. However, within the NHS it can be used for the treatment of joint pain, swelling and stiffness in inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.

What you need to know before you are given Kenalog IM Injection

                  Who will be administering my Kenalog IM Injection?

Any treatments with PJP Aesthetics will be carried out by myself. I have been a qualified nurse, registered with the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) since 2005. 

Any equipment used in my clinic has been purchased from reputable companies, registered pharmacies and are UK based. Due to the nature of treatments I provide, I have taken both the personal and professional decision not to purchase equipment from social media platforms. You can therefore feel safe in the knowledge that you will be in safe hands. 

Kenalog IM Injection is not recommended for children under 6 years. PJP Aesthetics do not provide this type of injection to those under 18 years old. 

 

You must tell your practitioner if: 

1. You have had any recent infection [including tuberculosis (TB)] 

2. You have had recent bowel surgery. 

3. You have, or have had a bowel disorder or stomach ulcer.

4. You have an infection or inflammation of the veins in your legs.

5. You have had any mental health disorders or epilepsy.

6. You have had any kidney, liver or thyroid (gland in the neck) problems as the dose of Kenalog may need to be adjusted.

7. You have recently suffered from any form of cancer.

8. You have thin or brittle bones (osteoporosis). 

9. You have myasthenia gravis (a disease which causes weak muscles). 

10. You have high blood pressure or heart failure.

11. You or someone in your family has glaucoma (increased pressure in your eyes).

12. You have visual disturbances, loss of vision, eye inflammation (red, bloodshot aching eye) and viral retinitis (inflammation of retina caused mainly by cytomegalovirus). Inflammation of the retina can affect your vision if not treated. Symptoms of inflammation includes experiencing loss of vision, general blurriness of vision, blind spots, seeing flashes of light or floaters (dark spots and squiggles in vision). 

13. You are diabetic and on insulin.  

Contact your practitioner if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances following this injection. 

 You may be asked to check with your GP first: 

• If you are taking triamcinolone acetonide [Kenalog] and medicines to control HIV (anti-retrovirals) or fungal infections (anti-fungals) because you could experience more adverse effects and your GP may wish to monitor you carefully. Refer to list of medicines mentioned in “Taking other medicines with Kenalog Injection.” 

• If you have ever had severe depression or bipolar disorder. This includes having had depression before while taking steroid medicines like Kenalog. 

• If any of your close family has had these illnesses.
If any of these applies to you, talk to a GP before taking Kenalog IM Injection. 

Steroid medicines suppress your body's natural immune response. Therefore, if you come into contact with anyone who has an infectious disease such as chickenpox, shingles or measles, consult your GP as soon as possible. 

While you are being treated with this medicine (or if you have recently stopped a course of treatment) do not have any vaccination without consulting your GP. 

 

Taking other medicines with Kenalog IM Injection 

Please tell your practitioner if you are taking, or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Some medicines may increase the effects of Kenolog and your doctor may wish to monitor you carefully if you are taking these medicines (including some medicines for HIV: ritonavir, cobicistat). 

This is especially important if you are taking; 

• -  Aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as corticosteroids can increase the chance of bleeding from the gut. 

• -  Anti-retroviral inhibitors and anti-fungals: ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, ketoconazole, and telithromycin because increased adverse effects may occur, resulting in systemic corticosteroid effects including Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal suppression 

• -  Warfarin or other medicines to thin the blood 

• -  Oral contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) 

• -  Human growth hormone 

• -  A medicine called ciclosporin 

• -  A medicine called rifampicin 

or medicines to treat; 

• -  High blood pressure or irregular heart beat (e.g. digoxin) 

• -  Myasthenia gravis (a disease which causes weak muscles) 

• -  Epilepsy or other sorts of fits (e.g. phenytoin) 

• -  Tuberculosis (TB) 

• -  Diabetes 

• -  Thyroid problems 

If you are taking any of these medicines, or are not sure, please consult your practitioner.

 

If you are due to have surgery: Before surgery and anaesthesia (even at the dentist) you should tell the doctor or dentist that you have treated with Kenalog IM injection. 

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or if you are breast-feeding you should make sure you discuss this with your GP as soon as possible before receiving Kenalog IM injection. 

Driving and using machines: This medicine does not usually affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, but it can affect your eyesight. Tell your practitioner immediately if you have any pain in the eyes, problems with your vision. 

 

Receiving Kenalog IA/IM Injection 

The effect of the injection will vary from patient to patient and further injections may be given to you when symptoms return and not at regular intervals. 

The usual  dose is 40 mg (1.0 ml) injected deeply into the upper outer area of the buttock. 

Your practitioner will advise you whether it is wise for you to have further injections. 

Deep intramuscular injection must be given into the large muscles of the buttock and not into the upper arm or the thigh.
This medicine should not be given into a vein. 

 

Possible side effects 

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. 

Serious effects: you must tell your practitioner straight away 

Steroids including Kenalog IM injection can cause serious mental health problems. These are uncommon in both adults and children. For this reason PJP Aesthetics will only provide one prescription/injection per 12 month period. 

• Mood changes, mental health disorders, feeling dependent on the medicine, trouble sleeping, fits or epilepsy, fainting and dizziness 

• Feeling depressed, including thinking about suicide. 

• Feeling high (euphoria and mania) or moods that go up and down. 

• Feeling anxious/irritable, having problems sleeping, difficulty in thinking or being confused and losing your memory. 

• Feeling, seeing or hearing things which do not exist. Having strange and frightening thoughts, changing how you act or having feelings of being alone. If you notice any of the following side effects talk to a practitioner straight away. 

Serious cases of anaphylactic reactions (i.e. a serious allergic reaction) and anaphylactic shock including death have been reported. If you notice any of the following, inform your practitioner immediately: As these may be signs of an allergic reaction 

• -  Swelling of the face, lips or throat 

• -  Breathing difficulties 

• -  Skin itching, redness or a rash 

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people 

• -  Increased risk of infection 

• -  Injection site reactions 

• -  Headache 

• -  Joint pain 

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people 

• -  Changes in blood chemicals, which can cause fluid retention 

• -  Heart failure or irregular heart beat 

• -  Weak or fragile bones or muscles, poor healing of broken bones or destruction of the ends of bones, decrease in muscle mass, muscle or bone pain, muscular weakness/discomfort, bone fracture 

• -  Loss of bone tissue (osteoporosis) 

• -  Thin/fragile skin, rashes, stretch marks, bruising, sweating, flushing and increased hair growth, itchy bumps, loss/darkening of skin colour 

• -  Indigestion, stomach pain, stomach ulcers and perforation, bloating, increased appetite and weight loss, inflammation of the pancreas/oesophagus, stomach bleeding 

• -  Eye problems including inflammation, glaucoma and cataracts, blindness, bulging of the eye, damage to the cornea or white of eye 

• -  Infection of the nose 

• -  Irregular periods/ postmenopausal women may also experience vaginal bleeding 

• -  Fungal or Viral eye infections 

• -  Yeast infections e.g. thrush 

• -  Tiredness and tingling, Increased pressure in the brain 

• -  Increased appetite 

• -  Weight loss 

• -  Less tolerance to carbohydrates 

• -  Mild form of diabetes with no obvious symptoms 

• -  Inadequately controlled diabetes mellitus, high blood sugar 

• -  Pain, swelling and worsening of the pain in the injected joint 

• -  Impaired healing 

• -  High body temperature 

• -  Treatment with steroids can stop the body from producing some hormones and may slow or stop children’s growth. 

• -  Hormone production by certain glands may be increased or decreased. 

• -  Vertigo 

• -  High/low blood pressure 

• -  Abnormal blood clots 

- Longstanding chronic infections such as tuberculosis could be made worse 

Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from available data

• Blurred vision 

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