Kenalog and lungs

I have suffered with chronic sinusitis for about 8 years, and concurrent asthma for about 6 years. I am a 46 year old male.

I have worked with highly noted ENT in the area, and he tried many (non-prescription) recommendations over the course of a few months, but nothing worked. I had a CT scan that showed profound sinusitis in all regions, especially the ones that nasal corticosteroids cannot reach. In an attempt to avoid surgery, which he described as risky and not particularly effective with the type of widespread sinusitis I had (my orbital lobes were involved), he then suggested I get a single intramuscular corticosteroid shot, which he administered about 10 days ago. I was not advised of any potential side effects.

I called today to ask what it was, and was told Kenalog 60mg - I was getting a prescription for something else and wanted to make sure the pharmacist knew what I already had in my system. No comment from the pharmacist.

First of all, the Kenalog has worked like a miracle drug on my sinusitis. I can breathe normally, I can fly without intense ear pain, my sense of smell and taste has returned after an absence of almost a year, and my asthma seems to have improved. Also, and perhaps strangely, I had a noticeably enlarged lymph node below my left ear on the lower part of my neck for many, many years. It felt like a pea under the skin. None of the doctors in any of my physicals expressed concern about it over the years. Since receiving the Kenalog, this node has returned to normal and I cannot feel it unless I really search for it. I thought it has just calcified and was going to remain that way forever, but perhaps it was permanently inflamed from permanent sinusitis.

The only side effect while on Kenalog that I have noticed is that following Albuterol inhalation (for the asthma), my lungs burn a little and I have a productive cough for a few hours. I suspect that two things are going on: the Kenalog has decreased bronchial inflammation, and increased a vast amount of sinus drainage, some of which is going into my lungs to be expectorated.

My doctor is an older, seasoned pro, and I trust him. I just found and read online the BMS prescribing leaflet (the one for doctors) and it is very explicit that unless the injection is given as a DEEP intramuscular injection, then local atrophy is LIKELY to occur (their words, not mine). It does appear, therefore, that the side effect of atrophy is potentially dependent on the skill of the administering doctor.

I know I will get about 2-3 months relief from this medication, but with all the very tragic tales of side effects listed here, with which I sympathize deeply, I will be reluctant to take it again.

I am hoping the skill of my doctor - and my body's own system - cope with injection without some of the more serious side effects that the people here have been experiencing, though I expect I will have to wait a couple of months to see what happens. For some of us, the drug has (so far) saved us from a life of constant misery and fatigue. I am keeping my fingers crossed and will report back.

Wishing you all well.

I can hardly believe what i am reading!!! I have taken Kenalog shots for LUngs (Lupus??) and etc..... over the past three years. This year I noticed two huge indentions on my behind. I kept thinking what in the world??? I am 60 and in pretty good shape but when i saw that i had no idea that it came from that!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ride a 650 yamaha v-star while my husband is on a kawasaki!! It was the control thing!! I had to have my own motorcycle. Anyway i notcied this summer my seat did not fit my butt right!!! Now just another answer to the weird side effects of medicine. I am SO SICK OF IT I COULD SCREAM!!!! WHY CANT THEY BE HONEST?? Ok please girls keep on posting to this sight!! I thank u all for sharing, and keep on keeping on ONE DAY AT A TIME!!!!! The bad thing about this whole deal is it helps me to feel better!! Is there anything else out there to take besides the Kenalog??? thanks again, glo

I am a 40 yr. old female who was given a kenalog injection in March of this year for inflammation in my lungs due to a bad cold. Within 2 wks I noticed an indentation at the injection site (right buttock) Since then, it has continued to grow much deeper and bigger. The center is so deep that it is all the way to my bone. I am no longer able to wear a bathing suit, or tight clothing because it is very obvious. When I went back to my Dr. was told he had never seen a reaction like mine and couldn't offer any answers about whether it would continue to get worse, or if it would repair itself. (he said he would have to consult another Dr. for information) In the meantime, I have been bleeding off & on with huge clots and bright red blood ever since the injection, but until reading this forum, didn't connect the two. (Neither did my Dr. apparently) I am going for an MRI this week to hopefully find the source of the bleeding which I'm certain now is from this horrible injection. I am scared to think of what other side effects this drug may have caused me and others! I was never given any disclosure from the Dr. or the nurse who admistered the injection about ANY of the possible side effects. Something needs to be done about the misuse of this drug and the lack of information given before it is administered. Please ladies think twice about ever agreeing to a kenalog injection!

Lots of energy. I get 70mg injection once a week to help my neuropathy, pleursy, and liver tumors. It has helped shrink 2 of the 3 tumors (I also take a chemo pill). Most important, the neuropathy and asthmalike effects in my lungs have virtually disappeared. But the big news is that I have more energy and I think it is the weekly shot in the arse.

I've taken the kenalog shot for severe hay-fever and allergy-induced asthma three or four times in the last 7 years, always in the Spring when I reach a point that I can't take a single breath without coughing up phlegm from my lungs. Once I received the shot while pregnant. My doctor told me it was safe, and would have the side-effect of helping to develop the baby's lungs a little early. In my case that was a good thing, because I tend to deliver prematurely, and this baby was born 4 weeks early. She is four years old now, and healthy, strong, happy, intelligent and developing completely normally.

I have had no side-effects at all. Instead, I was *less* moody due to not being sick all the time with allergies and finally sleeping. I was finally able to sleep through the night without waking myself up coughing, or because my mouth closed and I couldn't breathe, which happened constantly. I stopped snoring, and could breathe and smell again, go outdoors without fluids immediately pouring from my eyes and nose and filling my lungs, and enjoy sunshine, blue sky and clean air again instead of being imprisoned in my house due to such severe allergies.

The shots clear up my allergy symptoms for 2-3 months, and by then the plants I'm most allergic to have ceased producing pollens for the year.

The severity of my allergy symptoms seem to cycle, so that I have only needed to resort to the kenalog shot every other year or every three years. Tomorrow (Monday morning) I'm seeing the doctor to get a kenalog shot for this year.