Protopic Ointment vs. Triamcinolone

Protopic ointment is a topical immunosuppressive medication used to treat eczema. This chronic skin disease causes redness, itching, swelling, cracking, crusting, weeping, and scaling. The inflammation is caused by an activation of the immune system. Protopic ointment suppresses the immune system and the inflammation by inhibiting the enzyme calcineurin, necessary for the multiplication of T-cells.

Triamcinolone acetonide is a corticosteroid prescribed to relieve skin inflammation, itching, dryness, and redness caused by allergic reactions, eczema, and psoriasis. The dental paste form of triamcinolone is used to treat mouth ulcers. Corticosteroids prevent or suppress inflammation and immune responses in the body.

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What are the side effects of Protopic and triamcinolone?

Protopic

The most common side effects of tacrolimus ointment are skin reactions at the site of use, including:

• redness,
• burning,
• itching,
• Flu-like symptoms,
• allergic reactions, and
• headache.

Continuous long-term use of tacrolimus should be avoided because rare cases of skin cancer and lymphoma have occurred during tacrolimus treatment.

Triamcinolone

Common side effects of triamcinolone include:

• Abnormal or excessive hair growth
• Acne
• Adrenal suppression
• Appetite changes
• Bloating
• Blood clots
• Bruising or swelling
• Cardiac enlargement
• Cataract
• Circulatory collapse
• Delayed wound healing
• Diabetes mellitus
• Euphoria
• Fracture
• Headache
• Increased appetite
• Increased intracranial pressure
• Indigestion
• Irregular heart rate
• Joint pain
• Joint tissues damage
• Lupus erythematosus-like lesions
• Male-pattern hair growth on women
• Muscle tissue disease
• Nausea
• Nerve pain
• Nosebleed
• Osteoporosis
• Other skin changes
• Pseudotumor cerebri
• Psychosis
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Scaling
• Severe allergic reaction
• Sleep problems
• Spinning sensation
• Stomach or side pain
• Stroke
• Sweating more than usual
• Tendon rupture
• Thinning hair
• Vasculitis

This document does not contain all possible side effects. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

What is the dosage for Protopic and triamcinolone?

Protopic

Tacrolimus ointment is applied to the affected areas of skin twice daily. The 0.1% concentration is approved for the treatment of adults, and the 0.03% concentration is approved for both children (ages two and older) and adults.

Triamcinolone

Adult and Pediatric Dosage Forms and Strengths

Dosing Consideraations – Should be Given as Follows:

Adult:

• Treatment of rheumatic or arthritic disorders
• 60 mg intramuscularly every 6 weeks; may be supplemented as needed
• Intralesional injection: 1 mg per injection site 1 or more times weekly; not to exceed 30 mg/day
• Intra-articular/intrasynovial/soft-tissue injection: Large joints, 15-40 mg; small joints/tendon sheath inflammation, 2.5-10 mg

Pediatric:

• Treatment of rheumatic conditions
• 0.11-1.6 mg/kg/day intramuscularly divided every 3-4 hours
• Children 6-12 years: 0.03-0.2 mg/kg intramuscularly every 1-7 days
• Children over 12 years: 60 mg intramuscularly every 6 weeks; may be supplemented as needed
• Children over 12 years, intralesional injection: 1 mg per injection site 1 or more times weekly; not to exceed 30 mg/day

Triamcinolone Hexacetonide

• Treatment of rheumatic or arthritic disorders
• Intralesional injection: 0.5 mg/²; repeated as needed
• Intra-articular injection: Large joint, 10-20 mg; small joints, 2-6 mg; repeated every 3-4 weeks as needed

Dosing Considerations

• Dilute with local anesthetic before injection
• Dilute with appropriate solution before injection
• Avoid diluents containing parabens or phenols

What drugs interact with Protopic and triamcinolone?

Protopic

No studies have been done to determine if tacrolimus ointment has important interactions with other drugs. Interactions are unlikely because only small amounts of tacrolimus are absorbed from the skin.

Triamcinolone

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

Severe Interactions of triamcinolone include:

Triamcinolone has serious interactions with at least 72 different drugs.
Triamcinolone has moderate interactions with at least 229 different drugs.
Triamcinolone has mild interactions with at least 121 different drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns or for more information about this medicine.

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Are Protopic and triamcinolone safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Protopic

Tacrolimus ointment should be used during pregnancy only if the benefits outweigh the potential risks to the fetus. Consideration should be given to discontinuing either breastfeeding or tacrolimus ointment in nursing mothers.

Triamcinolone

• Use triamcinolone with caution during pregnancy if benefits outweigh risks
• Animal studies show risk and human studies are not available or neither animal nor human studies were done
• Fetal harm can occur with use of triamcinolone in the first trimester
• Use caution if breastfeeding

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Summary

Protopic ointment and triamcinolone are used to treat atopic dermatitis. Triamcinolone is also used to relieve skin inflammation, itching, dryness, and redness caused by allergic reactions and psoriasis. Protopic ointment is an immunosuppressive and triamcinolone is a corticosteroid.

Protopic ointment and triamcinolone are used to treat atopic dermatitis. Triamcinolone is also used to relieve skin inflammation, itching, dryness, and redness caused by allergic reactions and psoriasis. Protopic ointment is an immunosuppressive and triamcinolone is a corticosteroid.