Prescription and over-the-counter medicine

Triamcinolone Brand names: Kenalog, Triesence, Nasacort, Zilretta, Xipere; first approved as Aristocort

Triamcinolone (Kenalog) is a prescription and over-the-counter medicine with an FDA approval on record since 1957. FDA's NDC Directory lists it from 73 generic labelers, and pharmacies paid $0.0452 per gram (Triamcinolone 0.1% cream) in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey; its other strengths are brand-only, $2.33 per mL (Kenalog-10 50 mg/5 mL vial).

Generic listed

Check it at the source: the triamcinolone FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 28, 2026, E. Fougera & Co. a division of Fougera Pharmaceuticals, LLC); the NDA 11161 record on Drugs@FDA; every triamcinolone label on DailyMed.

Highlights of the record

FDA label of January 28, 2026; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026

Used for

From the label: indications and usage
Topical corticosteroids are indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses.

Forms and strengths

0.147 mg/g
0.25 mg/g
0.25 mg/ml
0.5 mg/g
1 mg/g
1 mg/ml
5 mg/g
10 mg/ml
40 mg/ml
80 mg/ml
200 mg/5ml
400 mg/10ml

Cream; ointment; injection (suspension); spray (metered); paste.

On the market

Earliest approval on file: December 3, 1957 Aristocort, Astellas; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
Generic approvals: 115 first April 26, 1972; 51 with a marketed status in Drugs@FDA
Labelers listed (NDC): 79 of which 73 under generic applications, 9 under brand applications, repackagers included
Last listed patent: April 16, 2040 Xipere injection; not a generic launch date

Supply and safety

Pharmacy cost (NADAC): $0.0452 per gram Triamcinolone 0.1% cream
Shortage (FDA): None current 2 past records
Recalls by its makers (FDA): 27 since 2012 0 Class I among all firms' recalls; latest October 11, 2024; 15 more by firms not listed as its makers
FAERS reports: 31,591 through July 30, 2026

What is triamcinolone used for?

From the label: indications and usage
Topical corticosteroids are indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses.

Conditions named in the indications of triamcinolone's FDA labels, with every medicine labeled for each:

From other triamcinolone labels
Asthma and Eczema (atopic dermatitis): Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis …
Anemia: Acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, pure red cell aplasia, selected cases of secondary thrombocytopenia.
Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma: For the palliative management of leukemias and lymphomas.
Allergies: Uses temporarily relieves these symptoms of hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies:
Fever: Uses Temporarily relieves these symptoms of hey fever or other respiratory allergies: nasal congestion runny nose sneezing itchy nose
Pain and Osteoarthritis: ZILRETTA (triamcinolone acetonide extended-release injectable suspension) is indicated as an intra-articular injection for the management of osteoarthritis pain of the knee.

FDA pharmacologic class: Corticosteroid.

Source: FDA drug label (triamcinolone acetonide), E. Fougera & Co. a division of Fougera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, effective January 28, 2026 (SPL set 92a1ded0-8e1a-4994-9c8a-89e84fc85c94), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

Is there a generic for triamcinolone (Kenalog)?

The FDA approved the first generic triamcinolone on April 26, 1972. 115 generic applications are approved; 51 of them carry a current (not discontinued) marketing status in Drugs@FDA; that status is not evidence that the generic is on sale.

FDA's NDC Directory lists triamcinolone from 73 labelers under a generic (ANDA) application and from 9 brand labelers. A listing means the company has registered the product for sale; it does not show that every pharmacy stocks it.

The Orange Book lists no patent for Kenalog lotion; a patent listed only for Xipere injection runs to April 16, 2040. A patent or exclusivity date is not the date a generic goes on sale: court cases and settlements move it either way.

1957 earliest approval on file
1972 first generic approved
2040 last listed patent
red ticks recalls

Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)

What do pharmacies pay for triamcinolone (Kenalog)?

In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $0.0452 per gram (Triamcinolone 0.1% cream), down 18% from $0.0554 on October 8, 2025. Prices per unit in the table differ many-fold by strength, form and brand, so compare like with like. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.

Triamcinolone 0.1% cream (generic)
Kenalog-10 50 mg/5 mL vial (brand)

$2.33

$0.0398

January 2024October 2026

NADAC per unit, October 7, 2026
Strength and form	Brand or generic	Pharmacy cost	30 tablets, or one pen or vial	12-month change
24h nasal allergy 55 mcg spray	Generic	$0.739 per mL	n/a	+4%
Ft 24h nasal allergy 55 mcg spr	Generic	$0.739 per mL	n/a	+4%
Gs nasal allergy 24hr spray	Generic	$0.739 per mL	n/a	+4%
Nasal allergy 55 mcg spray	Generic	$0.739 per mL	n/a	n/a
Triamcinolone 0.025% cream	Generic	$0.0532 per gram	n/a	-2%
Triamcinolone 0.025% lotion	Generic	$0.350 per mL	n/a	-0.8%
Triamcinolone 0.025% ointment	Generic	$0.074 per gram	n/a	-0.3%
Triamcinolone 0.05% ointment	Generic	$0.187 per gram	n/a	-20%
Triamcinolone 0.1% cream	Generic	$0.0452 per gram	n/a	-18%
Triamcinolone 0.1% lotion	Generic	$0.271 per mL	n/a	-13%
Triamcinolone 0.1% ointment	Generic	$0.0647 per gram	n/a	+0.3%
Triamcinolone 0.1% paste	Generic	$2.58 per gram	n/a	-17%
Triamcinolone 0.147 mg/g spray	Generic	$2.38 per gram	n/a	+4%
Triamcinolone 0.5% cream	Generic	$0.190 per gram	n/a	-15%

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price

Is triamcinolone in shortage?

No triamcinolone presentation is listed as limited or unavailable in the FDA Drug Shortage Database (read October 8, 2026); it keeps 1 current entry listed as available (updated September 15, 2026). ASHP keeps a separate shortage list, which can differ.

Presentation	Company	Status	Updated
Hexatrione, Injection, 40 mg/2 mL (NDC 59137-570-01)	Medexus	Current	September 15, 2026

Every triamcinolone presentation in the FDA shortage database

Source: FDA Drug Shortage Database via openFDA, updated October 8, 2026

Has triamcinolone been recalled?

The FDA's Enforcement Report lists 42 recalls naming triamcinolone since 2012: 0 Class I (the most serious), 34 Class II, 8 Class III; 3 still ongoing. 15 of them are by firms that FDA's NDC Directory does not list as a maker of triamcinolone and that hold no application for it in Drugs@FDA, such as compounding pharmacies or bulk-ingredient suppliers; the recall notice names the product recalled. A recall names products and lots, not every product of the medicine.

Started	Class	Company	Reason
October 11, 2024	Class III	Padagis US LLC	Subpotent and Superpotent Drug. Out of specification assay results recorded as part of Uniformity of Container test during long-term stability testing.
June 12, 2024	Class II	PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS INC	Failed Dissolution Specifications - did not meet the acceptance criteria for IVR Level 3 testing at 9 months 2-8°C followed by 6 weeks at 25°C
May 7, 2024	Class II	PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS INC	Failed Stability Specifications - at 12 months 2-8 degrees C followed by 6 weeks at 25 degrees C.
September 28, 2023	Class II	Eugia US LLC	Presence of Particulate Matter: A product complaint of a piece of glass was identified in a vial. The piece of glass appears to be roughly 1 cm x 0.5 cm inside …
September 12, 2022	Class II	Direct Rx	CGMP Deviations: Product complaints reporting the product to have a gritty texture and lack of effectiveness.
August 17, 2022	Class II	Padagis US LLC	CGMP Deviations: Product complaints reporting the product to have a gritty texture and lack of effectiveness.
April 13, 2022	Class II	Mckesson Medical-Surgical Inc. Corporate Office	cGMP deviations: Temperature abuse
March 15, 2022	Class II	Teligent Pharma, Inc.	cGMP deviations: all products within expiry are being recalled because the firm is discontinuing its stability study program.

Source: FDA Enforcement Report (drug recalls) via openFDA, through October 8, 2026

What does the triamcinolone label say about other medicines?

The triamcinolone label names 12 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The labels of 10 other medicines name triamcinolone. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.

Medicine named	Section	What the label says
Amphotericin b	drug interactions	Potassium depleting agents (e.g., diuretics, Amphotericin B): When corticosteroids are administered concomitantly with potassium-depleting agents, patients should be observed closely for development of hypokalemia.
Aspirin	drug interactions	NSAIDs including aspirin and salicylates: Concomitant use of aspirin or other non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents and corticosteroids increases the risk of gastrointestinal side effects.
Carbamazepine	drug interactions	CYP 3A4 inducers (e.g., barbiturates, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and rifampin): Drugs, such as barbiturates, phenytoin, ephedrine, and rifampin, which induce hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activity may enhance metabolism of corticosteroid and require that the dosage of corticosteroid be increased.
Cholestyramine	drug interactions	Cholestyramine: Cholestyramine may increase the clearance of corticosteroids.
Cyclosporine	drug interactions	Cyclosporine: Increased activity of both cyclosporine and corticosteroids may occur when the two are used concurrently.
Ephedrine	drug interactions	CYP 3A4 inducers (e.g., barbiturates, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and rifampin): Drugs, such as barbiturates, phenytoin, ephedrine, and rifampin, which induce hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activity may enhance metabolism of corticosteroid and require that the dosage of corticosteroid be increased.
Hydrocortisone	drug interactions	Amphotericin B: There have been cases reported in which concomitant use of Amphotericin B and hydrocortisone was followed by cardiac enlargement and congestive heart failure (s ee Potassium Depleting Agents).
Isoniazid	drug interactions	Antitubercular drugs: Serum concentrations of isoniazid may be decreased.
Ketoconazole	drug interactions	CYP 3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, macrolide antibiotics): Ketoconazole has been reported to decrease the metabolism of certain corticosteroids by up to 60% leading to an increased risk of corticosteroid side effects.
Phenytoin	drug interactions	CYP 3A4 inducers (e.g., barbiturates, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and rifampin): Drugs, such as barbiturates, phenytoin, ephedrine, and rifampin, which induce hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activity may enhance metabolism of corticosteroid and require that the dosage of corticosteroid be increased.
Rifampin	drug interactions	CYP 3A4 inducers (e.g., barbiturates, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and rifampin): Drugs, such as barbiturates, phenytoin, ephedrine, and rifampin, which induce hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activity may enhance metabolism of corticosteroid and require that the dosage of corticosteroid be increased.
Warfarin	drug interactions	Anticoagulant agents: Coadministration of corticosteroids and warfarin usually results in inhibition of response to warfarin, although there have been some conflicting reports.

Other labels that name triamcinolone

Check triamcinolone against other medicines

What do FAERS reports show for triamcinolone?

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 31,591 reports that list triamcinolone among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 3,076 are coded as a death and 6,572 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.

Reports received each year

The most reported reactions

Drug Ineffective (a use or a product term, not a reaction)5,329
Off Label Use (a use or a product term, not a reaction)2,918
Pruritus (named in the label)2,642
Rash2,529
Pain (a use or a product term, not a reaction)2,228
Fatigue2,129
Nausea2,039
Headache (named in the label)1,912

Side effects: the label's list and every FAERS reaction

Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026

How does triamcinolone compare with medicines for the same use?

10 side-by-side pages set triamcinolone beside a medicine whose label shares a use: approvals, generics, pharmacy cost, warnings and supply.

What next?

Alternatives to triamcinolone: medicines labeled for the same conditions
Other corticosteroids: the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
Triamcinolone side effects: the label's list beside FAERS reports
Triamcinolone shortage record: every presentation, company and date
Check an interaction: what two or more labels say about each other