Over-the-counter medication · Corticosteroid
triamcinolone
Also sold as Kenalog, Aristocort. This ointment treats skin problems that cause swelling, redness, and itching.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
triamcinolone (Kenalog) is an over-the-counter Corticosteroid, with 2 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
triamcinolone (Kenalog) is an over-the-counter Corticosteroid. This ointment treats skin problems that cause swelling, redness, and itching.
Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment is a steroid medicine that reduces inflammation and itching. It comes in different strengths.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
triamcinolone is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Harrow Eye, LLC. Status: Limited Availability.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.03/unit
Generic Available
Yes (44 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This ointment treats skin problems that cause swelling, redness, and itching.
Common side effects
Burning, Itching, Irritation
Key warnings
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from triamcinolone's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Triamcinolone Acetonide is a synthetic steroid. It works by reducing inflammation and itching in the affected area. It does this by changing how your immune system responds.
Serious Warnings
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. If you develop a skin infection, stop using occlusive dressings.
Known Drug Interactions
betamethasone budesonide ciclesonide fluticasone methylprednisolone mometasone triamcinolone ↑ corticosteroids Co-administration with corticosteroids (all routes of administration) of which exposures are significantly increased by strong CYP3A inhibitors can increase the risk for Cushing's syndrome and adrenal suppression.
Mechanism: Darunavir stops the body from breaking down the steroid, which can lead to serious hormone problems like Cushing's syndrome.
Corticosteroids primarily metabolized by CYP3A betamethasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone, methylprednisolone, mometasone, triamcinolone ↑ corticosteroid Co-administration with corticosteroids (all routes of administration) of which exposures are significantly increased by strong CYP3A inhibitors can increase the risk for Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal suppression.
Mechanism: Paxlovid blocks the enzyme that breaks down triamcinolone, causing the steroid levels to stay too high for too long. This can lead to serious hormonal problems like Cushing's syndrome.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I use this on my face?
What strength should I use?
Can I use a bandage?
What if it burns when I put it on?
How long should I use this medicine?
Can I buy this over the counter?
What should I do if I get it in my eyes?
Can children use this medicine?
What happens if I use too much?
Can I use this for other skin conditions?
What are the common side effects of triamcinolone?
Does triamcinolone interact with other medications?
What drug class is triamcinolone?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for triamcinolone?
Has triamcinolone been recalled?
Is triamcinolone currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
Presence of Foreign substance - potential presence of metal particulate matter
F.H. INVESTMENTS, Inc. (dba Asteria Health)
Presence of Foreign substance - potential presence of metal particulate matter
F.H. INVESTMENTS, Inc. (dba Asteria Health)
Presence of Foreign substance - potential presence of metal particulate matter
F.H. INVESTMENTS, Inc. (dba Asteria Health)
Presence of particulate matter - Glass like particles.
Imprimis NJOF, LLC
CGMP Deviations: Potential presence of metal particulate matter
FARMAKEIO OUTSOURCING LLC
CGMP Deviations: Potential presence of metal particulate matter
FARMAKEIO OUTSOURCING LLC
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
PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS INC
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 the vial.
Eugia US LLC
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benzoyl peroxide
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betamethasone
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Pain Relievers Compared
NSAIDs vs acetaminophen, which OTC pain reliever to use
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
What the FDA Data Shows for triamcinolone
The FDA label for triamcinolone (sold under brand names such as Kenalog, Aristocort) classifies it as an over-the-counter product in the Corticosteroid class. This ointment treats skin problems that cause swelling, redness, and itching. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Burning, Itching, Irritation.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.03.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 8 recall records on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: January 20, 2026
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages