PRECAUTIONS
General
Intranasal corticosteroids may cause a reduction in growth velocity when administered
to pediatric patients (see PRECAUTIONS, Pediatric Use section).
In clinical studies with triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray, the development
of localized infections of the nose and pharynx with Candida albicans has
rarely occurred. When such an infection develops it may require treatment with
appropriate local therapy and discontinuance of treatment with AllerNaze (triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray) .
AllerNaze (triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray) should be used with caution, if at all, in patients with active
or quiescent tuberculous infection of the respiratory tract or in patients with
untreated fungal, bacterial, or systemic viral infections or ocular herpes simplex.
Because of the inhibitory effect of corticosteroids on wound healing, in patients
who have experienced recent nasal septal ulcers, nasal surgery or trauma, a
corticosteroid should be used with caution until healing has occurred. As with
other nasally inhaled corticosteroids, nasal septal perforations have been reported
in rare instances.
When used at excessive doses, systemic corticosteroid effects such as hypercorticism
and adrenal suppression may appear. If such changes occur, AllerNaze (triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray) should
be discontinued slowly, consistent with accepted procedures for discontinuing
oral corticosteroid therapy.
Systemic Availability and HPA Axis Suppression
Triamcinolone acetonide administered intranasally as triamcinolone acetonide
solution has been shown to be absorbed into the systemic circulation in humans.
The bioavailability of triamcinolone acetonide when administered as a solution
in triamcinolone acetonide solution is approximately 5-fold greater than when
administered as a CFC aerosol suspension formulation. While triamcinolone acetonide
solution administered to 5 patients with allergic rhinitis at 400 mcg/day for
42 days did not measurably affect adrenal response to a six-hour cosyntropin
stimulation test, the 6-hour cosyntropin test is an insensitive assessment for
subtle HPA effects of corticosteroids. Doses of 800 and 1600 mcg/day triamcinolone
acetonide solution did demonstrate a trend toward dose-related suppression of
the HPA response. However, this decrease did not reach statistical significance,
whereas 10 mg daily oral prednisone did. (see CLINICAL
PHARMACOLOGY, Pharmacodynamics)
Information for patients
Patients being treated with AllerNaze (triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray) should receive the following information
and instructions. Patients who are on immunosuppressant doses of corticosteroids
should be warned to avoid exposure to chickenpox or measles and, if exposed,
to obtain medical advice.
Patients should use AllerNaze (triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray) at regular intervals since its effectiveness
depends on its regular use. (See DOSAGE AND
ADMINISTRATION)
An improvement in some patient symptoms may be seen within the first two days
of treatment, and generally, it takes one week of treatment to reach maximum
benefit. Initial assessment for response should be made during this time frame
and periodically until the patient's symptoms are stabilized.
The patient should take the medication as directed and should not exceed the
prescribed dosage. The patient should contact the physician if symptoms do not
improve after three weeks, or if the condition worsens. Patients who experience
recurrent episodes of epistaxis (nose bleeds) or nasal septum discomfort while
taking this medication should contact their physician. Transient nasal irritation
and/or burning or stinging may occur upon instillation with this product. Spraying
triamcinolone acetonide directly into the eyes or onto the nasal septum should
be avoided. For the proper use of this unit and to attain maximum improvement,
the patient should read and follow the accompanying patient
instructions carefully.
The bottle should be discarded after 120 sprays following initial priming since
the amount of triamcinolone acetonide delivered thereafter per spray may not
be consistent. Do not transfer any remaining solution to another bottle.
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis And Impairment Of Fertility
In two-year mouse and Sprague-Dawley rat studies, triamcinolone acetonide did
not increase the incidence of tumors at oral doses up to 1 and 3 mcg/kg, respectively
(less than the maximum recommended daily intranasal dose on a mcg/m² basis
Triamcinolone acetonide has not been found to be mutagenic in Salmonella/mammalian-microsome
reverse mutation assay (Ames test) or the chromosomal aberration test in the
Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells.
Triamcinolone acetonide did not impair fertility in Sprague-Dawley rats given
oral doses up to 15 mcg/kg (less than the maximum recommended daily intranasal
dose on a mcg/m² basis
However, triamcinolone acetonide caused increased fetal resorptions and stillbirths
and decreased pup weight and survival at 5 mcg/kg (less than the maximum recommended
daily intranasal dose on a mcg/m 2 basis). These effects were not produced at
1 mcg/kg (less than the maximum recommended daily intranasal dose on a mcg/m²
basis
Pregnancy
Teratogenic Effects
Pregnancy Category C
Triamcinolone acetonide was teratogenic in rats, rabbits, and monkeys. In rats,
triamcinolone acetonide was teratogenic at inhalation doses of 20 mcg/kg and
above (approximately 7/10 of the maximum recommended daily intranasal dose in
adults on a mcg/m² basis). In rabbits, triamcinolone acetonide was teratogenic
at inhalation doses 20 mcg/kg and above (approximately 2 times the maximum recommended
daily intranasal dose in adults on a mcg/m² basis). In monkeys, triamcinolone
acetonide was teratogenic at an inhalation dose of 500 mcg/kg and above (approximately
37 times the maximum recommended daily intranasal dose in adults on a mcg/m²
basis). Dose-related teratogenic effects in rats and rabbits included cleft
palate, or internal hydrocephaly, or both and axial skeletal defects, whereas
the effects observed in the monkey were cranial malformations.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Triamcinolone
acetonide, like other corticosteroids, should be used during pregnancy only
if the potential benefits justify the potential risk to the fetus. Since their
introduction, experience with oral corticosteroids in pharmacologic as opposed
to physiologic doses suggests that rodents are more prone to teratogenic effects
from corticosteroids than humans. In addition, because there is a natural increase
in corticosteroid production during pregnancy, most women will require a lower
exogenous corticosteroid dose and many will not need corticosteroid treatment
during pregnancy.
Nonteratogenic Effects
Hypoadrenalism may occur in infants born of mothers receiving corticosteroids
during pregnancy. Such infants should be carefully observed.
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether triamcinolone acetonide is excreted in human breast
milk. Because other corticosteroids are excreted in human milk, caution should
be exercised when AllerNaze (triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray) is administered to nursing women.
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of 12 years have
not been established. Controlled has been observed in the absence of laboratory
evidence of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, suggesting
that growth velocity is a more sensitive indicator of systemic corticosteroid
exposure in pediatric patients than some commonly used tests of HPA axis function.
The long-term effects of this reduction in growth velocity associated with intranasal
corticosteroids, including the impact on final adult height, are unknown. The
potential for "catch up" growth following discontinuation of treatment with
intranasal corticosteroids has not been adequately studied. The growth of pediatric
patients receiving intranasal corticosteroids, including AllerNaze (triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray) should
be monitored routinely (e.g. via stadiometry). The potential growth effects
of prolonged treatment should be weighed against clinical benefits obtained
and the availability of safe and effective noncorticosteroid treatment alternatives.
To minimize the systemic effects of intranasal corticosteroids, including AllerNaze (triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray) ,
each patient should be titrated to the lowest dose that effectively controls
his/her symptoms.
Geriatric use
Clinical studies of AllerNaze (triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray) did not include sufficient numbers of subjects
aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger
subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences
in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection
for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of
the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal,
or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.