title: Parenteral triamcinolone acetonide: an alternative corticosteroid for the treatment of asthma.
abstract: Corticosteroids are effective in reducing the airway inflammation and controlling the symptoms of asthma. Many patients with chronic, severe asthma are steroid-dependent, requiring daily oral corticosteroids. Although corticosteroids may be effective, many patients suffer from their intolerable side effects. Various medications have been used as steroid-sparing agents in patients who suffer from the side effects of long-term high-dose steroids. While drugs like methotrexate and cyclosporine are promising, none have clearly been shown to be beneficial in most patients with asthma. The long-acting parenteral steroid triamcinolone acetonide has been tested by various investigators in these patients for over 20 years. Intramuscular triamcinolone appears to beneficial, with no significant increase in adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veeraraghavan
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide