Kenalog-40 (triamcinolone acetonide) is a prescription drug used to treat certain inflammatory conditions. Kenalog-40 comes as a liquid suspension given as an injection into a muscle or joint by a healthcare professional.
Kenalog-40 is prescribed for certain inflammatory conditions in adults and in children 1 month and older. To learn more about Kenalog-40’s uses, see the “What is Kenalog-40 used for?” section below.
Kenalog-40 basics
Kenalog-40 contains the active ingredient triamcinolone acetonide. It belongs to a group of drugs called corticosteroids. Kenalog-40 is a brand-name medication that’s also available as the generic drug triamcinolone acetonide.
Kenalog-40 is used to treat certain inflammatory conditions in adults and in children ages 1 month and older. Examples of these conditions include:
- allergic conditions, such as asthma, eczema, or seasonal allergies
- skin conditions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- conditions in your endocrine system, including adrenal insufficiency
- gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, such as ulcerative colitis
- blood conditions, such as certain types of thrombocytopenia, leukemia, or lymphoma
- nervous system conditions, such as multiple sclerosis flare-ups
- eye conditions, such as uveitis
- kidney or lung conditions
- conditions in your bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or joints, such as psoriatic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
Symptoms from these conditions depend on what part of your body is inflamed. For example, in ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease), you may experience abdominal pain or blood in your stools. You may also experience symptoms in other parts of your body, such as swelling or pain in your joints.
When your body becomes stressed from one of these conditions, your immune system turns on to help your body heal. Your immune system is supposed to fight infection. But sometimes it also mistakenly fights your healthy cells. And sometimes, your immune system becomes overactive. Kenalog-40 works by calming your immune system when it becomes stressed. In this way, Kenalog-40 works to treat inflammatory conditions.
Note: Kenalog-40 may be prescribed for a range of inflammatory conditions. The list above doesn’t include all possible uses. Your doctor will determine the right drug and dosage to treat your condition.
Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Kenalog-40.
How long does a Kenalog-40 injection last?
Kenalog-40 starts to work as soon as you receive a dose. How long the effects last depends on the dose your doctor prescribes to treat your condition. The effects of a single dose of Kenalog-40 may last several weeks, based on studies.
What’s the difference between Kenalog-10 and Kenalog-40?
Kenalog-10 and Kenalog-40 contain the same active ingredient, triamcinolone acetonide. Both drugs also come as a liquid suspension that’s injected by a healthcare professional, but their strengths are different.
Kenalog-10 contains 10 milligrams (mg) of triamcinolone per 1 milliliter (mL) of suspension, or 10 mg/mL. Kenalog-40 contains 40 mg/mL.
Below are commonly used dosages of Kenalog-40, but your doctor will determine the dosage that’s right for you.
Form and strength
Kenalog-40 comes as a liquid suspension that’s given as an injection into a muscle or joint. It’s available in one strength of 40 milligrams in 1 milliliter of suspension (mg/mL).
Recommended dosages
Below are commonly used dosages, but the dosage you receive will be determined by your doctor.
Kenalog-40 is given as an injection into one of your muscles (usually a buttock) or joints by a healthcare professional.
This drug is prescribed to treat a range of inflammatory conditions. The dosage you receive depends on the specific condition you have and how your body reacts to the drug.
When injected into a muscle:
| Typical starting dose | Typical dosing range* |
|---|---|
| 60 mg | 40 mg to 80 mg |
* Some people may notice relief from their condition with lower doses, such as 20 mg or less.
If Kenalog-40 is injected into a joint, the dose depends on how big the joint is:
| Type of joint | Typical starting dose | Higher dose if needed |
|---|---|---|
| smaller joints | 2.5 mg to 5 mg | up to 10 mg |
| larger joints | 5 mg to 15 mg | up to 40 mg |
How to take
Your doctor will explain how Kenalog-40 will be given to you. They’ll also explain how much you’ll be given and how often. Kenalog-40 is available as a liquid suspension that’s given as an injection into the muscle of your buttock or joint. You’ll receive these injections at your doctor’s office or a clinic.
Questions about taking Kenalog-40
Below are some common questions about taking Kenalog-40.
- What if I miss a dose of Kenalog-40? If you miss an appointment to receive an injection of Kenalog-40, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule.
- Will I need to use Kenalog-40 long term? Maybe. How long you’ll receive Kenalog-40 depends on your specific condition. Talk with your doctor to learn more about how long your treatment may last.
- How long does Kenalog-40 take to work? Kenalog-40 begins to work after you receive your first dose. But you may not notice an improvement in your symptoms for a few hours to a few days after receiving it.
Like most drugs, Kenalog-40 may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below contain some of the more common side effects Kenalog-40 may cause but not all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Kenalog-40. They can also suggest ways to help reduce or manage them.
Mild side effects
Below is a list of some of the mild side effects Kenalog-40 can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read the drug’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Kenalog-40 that have been reported include:
- retaining more fluid than normal
- skin problems, including pain where Kenalog-40 was injected or skin rash
- weight gain
- problems with your muscles or joints, including muscle weakness
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Kenalog-40 can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects of Kenalog-40 that have been reported include:
- cardiac problems, including high blood pressure, slow heart rate, heart failure, or changes in your heart’s rhythm
- changes in certain electrolytes in your blood, such as lower levels of potassium or higher levels of sodium
- skin problems, including acne or sweating more than usual
- problems with your endocrine system, including:
- adrenal glands that function less than normal
- hirsutism
- needing to take more insulin (if you have diabetes)
- slower growth than normal in children
- lower ability to fight viral, bacterial, fungal, and other infections
- tuberculosis
- eye problems, including cataracts or glaucoma
- gastrointestinal problems, including bloating, nausea, or an enlarged liver
- Kaposi sarcoma
- osteoporosis
- problems with your muscles or joints, including muscle weakness
- changes in your mood, including depression and insomnia
Allergic reactionFor some people, Kenalog-40 can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.
What might help
If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Kenalog-40 treatment.
If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Kenalog-40, they may have you switch to a different treatment.
Below is important information you should consider before starting Kenalog-40 treatment.
Interactions
Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions. Kenalog-40 can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.
Before starting Kenalog-40, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any herbs, vitamins, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Drug interactions
Below is a list of medications that can interact with Kenalog-40. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Kenalog-40. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples |
|---|---|
| nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) | • ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Caldolor) • acetaminophen (Tylenol) |
| certain antifungal drugs | • amphotericin B (Abelcet, Ambisome) • ketoconazole |
| certain antibiotics | • azithromycin (Zithromax) • clarithromycin |
| certain diuretics | • chlorthalidone (Thalitone) • hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide) |
| warfarin (Jantoven) | — |
| certain antidiabetic drugs | • glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase) • pioglitazone (Actos) |
| isoniazid | — |
| cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite) | — |
| cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) | — |
| certain HIV drugs | • ritonavir (Norvir) • atazanavir (Reyataz) |
| digoxin (Lanoxin) | — |
| certain estrogen-containing drugs, including birth control pills | • ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate (Previfem, Mili, Estarylla, Mono-Linyah, Tri-Linyah, Sprintec, Tri Lo Sprintec, Tri-Sprintec, others) • drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Yaz, Beyaz, Yasmin, Nikki, Melamisa, Syeda, others) |
| certain antiseizure drugs | • phenytoin (Dilantin) • carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Teril, Epitol) |
Kenalog-40 and alcohol
Based on studies, alcohol isn’t known to interact with Kenalog-40. But alcohol may make some symptoms of certain inflammatory conditions worse. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you limit the amount of alcohol you consume. Talk with them if you have questions about Kenalog-40 and alcohol.
Other interactions
Kenalog-40 can interact with other substances, such as:
- Foods: Kenalog-40 interacts with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Your doctor may recommend that you do not consume grapefruit products during Kenalog-40 treatment.
- Lab tests or vaccines: If you undergo certain types of skin testing (including allergy testing) while taking Kenalog-40, the results may not be accurate.
- You should also not receive live or live attenuated vaccines* during Kenalog-40 treatment. Getting a live vaccine while you’re taking Kenalog-40 increases your risk of infection. Examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, and chickenpox.
- Receiving other types of vaccines during Kenalog-40 treatment may cause lower levels of protection against the condition the vaccine is used to prevent. If you need to get a vaccine, talk with your doctor first to make sure it’s safe.
* Live and live attenuated vaccines contain weakened versions of the bacteria or virus that they’re meant to protect against.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Kenalog-40 during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning for either, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with this medication.
Birth control
Certain birth control pills interact with Kenalog-40. So if you’re able to become pregnant, you may need to change your birth control method. Talk with your doctor about effective birth control options during Kenalog-40 treatment.
Warnings
Kenalog-40 can sometimes cause harmful effects in people with certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether this drug is a good treatment option for you.
Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Kenalog-40. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:
- idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (a problem with how your blood clots, caused by low platelet levels)
- heart problems, such as high blood pressure, heart failure, or recent heart attack
- retaining more fluid than normal
- more sodium or less potassium in your blood than normal
- adrenal gland problems
- thyroid gland that is more active or less active than normal
- prone to infection
- fungal infection
- history of tuberculosis (TB)
- recent exposure to someone with chickenpox or measles
- recent or scheduled vaccines
- eye problems, such as cataracts or glaucoma
- history of gastrointestinal problems, such as peptic ulcers or diverticulitis
- liver problems, including cirrhosis
- kidney problems
- osteoporosis or risk of developing it (especially for females* who have gone through menopause)
- nervous system conditions, such as myasthenia gravis
- previous allergic reaction to Kenalog-40
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.
Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when considering Kenalog-40. What you’ll pay for the drug may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and how you receive the drug.
Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:
- Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks to get price estimates of what you’d pay for Kenalog-40 when using coupons from the site. See the coupon options below. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
- Generic form: Kenalog-40 is available as the generic drug triamcinolone acetonide. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. Talk with your doctor if you’d like to know whether generic triamcinolone acetonide could be an option for you.
You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
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Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Kenalog-40, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.
The following drugs are similar to Kenalog-40:
- prednisolone (Prelone, Orapred ODT, Pediapred)
- methylprednisolone (Medrol, Solu-Medrol, Depo-Medrol)
- prednisone (Rayos)
- dexamethasone (Hemady)
- hydrocortisone (Alkindi Sprinkle, Cortef, Solu-Cortef)
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
