Aristospan Injection: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Aristospan Injection (triamcinolone hexacetonide) is a glucocorticoid corticosteroid given as an injection into a joint or soft tissue to reduce inflammation. It is used for conditions such as gouty arthritis, bursitis, tenosynovitis, tennis elbow, rheumatoid arthritis, and synovitis of osteoarthritis, as well as for inflammation, allergic reactions, and certain skin diseases in patients who cannot take medicine by mouth. It works as a long-acting, localized anti-inflammatory and must be administered by a trained health professional.

What is Aristospan Injection

Aristospan is a steroid medicine given as an injection into a joint or soft tissue to reduce inflammation.

Aristospan Injection uses

• Short-term treatment of acute gouty arthritis
• Acute and subacute bursitis
• Acute nonspecific tenosynovitis
• Epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Synovitis of osteoarthritis
• Inflammation, allergic reactions, certain types of arthritis, gout, and skin diseases in patients who cannot take medicine by mouth

Benefits of Aristospan Injection

• Reduces joint and soft tissue inflammation during a flare-up
• Can help relieve pain and swelling from arthritis, bursitis, and tendon inflammation
• Provides long-acting corticosteroid activity
• Reduces inflammation
• Helps decrease swelling and discomfort
• Can provide localized treatment directly to an affected joint
• May provide prolonged symptom control after a local injection

How Aristospan Injection works

Aristospan is a corticosteroid that calms inflammation. When injected into a joint, it is absorbed slowly from the injection site and acts mainly as an anti-inflammatory in the area where it's given.

Aristospan Injection dosage

This medicine is given as a shot into a muscle, joint, or skin lesion by a nurse or trained health professional. The syringe should be gently shaken to mix the suspension evenly right before use. If mixed with a local anesthetic, the mixture should be used within one week and any leftover discarded after that time. Repeat injections into the same joint are usually not given more often than every three to four weeks. If you have been using this medicine for a long time, it should be stopped gradually and not all at once, as directed by your doctor.

Available forms and strengths

Suspension for injection

Side effects of Aristospan Injection

Common

• Nausea
• Bloating
• Appetite changes
• Stomach or side pain
• Headache
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Acne
• Scaling or other skin changes
• A wound that is slow to heal
• Thinning hair
• Bruising or swelling
• Sweating more than usual
• Irregular menstrual periods

Serious

• Sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights
• Fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness or passing out
• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors
• Signs of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis): rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the hands, face, or mouth
• Signs of infection such as fever or chills, especially after exposure to chicken pox or measles

Warnings and precautions

• Serious, sometimes fatal, nerve-related problems such as spinal cord damage, paralysis, blindness, or stroke have occurred when corticosteroids were injected into the space around the spinal cord (epidural). This medicine is not approved for that use.
• This product contains benzyl alcohol, which has been linked to a fatal 'gasping syndrome' in premature and low-birth-weight babies, so it must not be used in newborns.
• High doses of corticosteroids should not be used to treat traumatic brain injury, since a study found this increased the risk of death.
• This medicine makes it easier to get infections and can hide the signs of an infection you already have.
• Chicken pox and measles can become serious or even fatal in people taking this medicine, so exposure should be avoided.
• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without your doctor's guidance; it usually needs to be reduced gradually.
• This medicine should only be used during pregnancy if your doctor decides the benefit is worth the potential risk to the baby, since corticosteroids have caused birth defects in animal studies.
• Corticosteroids can pass into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby, so caution is needed if you are breastfeeding.
• This medicine should be used carefully if you have kidney problems, since fluid and salt retention can occur.
• People with liver cirrhosis may be more strongly affected by this medicine.

Storage

• Store at 20°-25°C (68°-77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Protect from light.
• DO NOT FREEZE.

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction like rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the hands, face, or mouth.
• Seek medical care immediately for serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.
• Seek medical care immediately for serious heart symptoms such as a fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat, fluttering in the chest, shortness of breath, or sudden dizziness or passing out.
• Seek medical care immediately for a severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.
• Tell your doctor right away if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles while using this medicine.
• Call your doctor if you notice a marked increase in joint pain with swelling, more restricted movement, fever, or feeling unwell, as this may indicate a joint infection.

Alternatives

• Kenalog
• Triamcinolone acetonide injection
• Methylprednisolone injection