Kenalog Dangerous Medications, Oral Steroids, Cataract Formation, Steroid Medications, Kenalog Injections
Posted over a year ago
I'm a physician. Usually Kenalog injections can be avoided and oral steroids used like prednisone. The local dimpling effect may occur if the injection is too shallow, actually there is a temporary "disolving" of the subcutaneous tissue, the muscle and ... more »
I'm a physician. Usually Kenalog injections can be avoided and oral steroids used like prednisone. The local dimpling effect may occur if the injection is too shallow, actually there is a temporary "disolving" of the subcutaneous tissue, the muscle and joints are not damaged. It is usually viewed as a "cosmetic" adverse effect. The Kenalog injections was primarily designed for joint injection and the kenalog or similar depo form stays active in the joint for a few weeks. All steroid medications can cause irritability and this is usually temporary for a few days. Steroids can cause muscle weakness- this is usually associated with high doses for prolonged use like being on prednisone for 3 or 4 months. Steroids can have an adverse effect on menstruation, but this is usually associated with chronic use. The most serious problems with the steroids result in bone weakness(osteoporosis) and serious damage to joints like the back and hip. Steroids can also result in weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure and cataract formation. I don't think Kenalog is any different than other steroids such as Medrol or Prednisone in terms of the side effect profile. These are dangerous medications that can also be very helpful in saving lives and diminishing pain.
Nereida - This will be the 2nd Kenalog injection I have had in the past 4 months. The first one worked wonders for Vestibular Neuritis but this one doesn't seem to be doing much after a week as I still have all of my off-balance issues. Does the effectiveness of this vary each time?? I also taken Medrol and I feel it works better. I was totally symptom free in avery short time.
Retirenation - I can tell you that my wife had the shots about 3 weeks ago and her face is blown up like a balloon. My gorgeous wife looks like a Chipmunk according to my kids and she is embarrassed to leave the house now.
Any idea how long this may last?
Angelsrose77 - HI, I have been getting Kenalog Injections for a spinal issuce and sciatica. I have also started having issues with menstration-bleeding all the time every other week. GYNO did exam and found polyps -several of them. They were removed. Then I had bleeding issues again sometimes not bleeding. Then i was diagnosed with PCOS-cysts on my ovaries and the cycles not being normal. I am taking Metformin to try to get regulated. My understanding PCOS is a endocrine issue. I have not seen a endocrineologist yet. However I find it odd that each time i have a injection my period woudl start. I would cal land they said yes that could happen .However when i brought it to their attnetion they said oh it should not be doing that..........???? So im taking metformin to help me. Last three months I become regular- Then i get a injection. Horrible pain in my calf and foot burning. I think they hit a nerve and damaged it. I have been taking naproxen and tramodol-which seems to help.
HOwever My feet a messed up to becausue I have fallen so much in the last few years that i have continued to mess my bac kup more and feet. So they gave me a injection two weeks ago- i feel like im gainging weight. I started to bleed early.........one day. Then stopped. Then I had another one last week. Guess waht im bleeding again............and im not due to start until the end of hte month.. So i have come to the conclusion there is a serious linke with these steriods in my female probelems. I know my weight does not help but my blood tests are normal and good. However I am swimming alot lately and it feels wonderful in fact i dont have as much pain and i know this is good for my wieght loss. Streachs. water areobics. laps. Plus the naproxen i know is helping with the inflamation. I think the steriods are for peopel with extreem pain- also it helps cover a longer period of time and for some avoids the need to take a daily medication. I have worked on tolerating my pain to avoid taking to much of the pills i have and swimming has bene helping. I have decided to try not getting the injections for a while to see what happens if i "return to normal". I find it odd so many people are having issues with this. I want to know what or why people are not aware of this. It could be just some peoples chechmical make up does not respond well to these particular steriod or any. I mean there trying to help one probelem now creating another. PCOS can lead to higher chances of cancer.diabetes and other stuff Also I cant really get pregnant since im not ovualting properly -My back is bad to but i feel the female stuff could be linked to Kenalog or steriod injections.DO i really want that? NO im going to work hard at swimming .praying and yeah its not good take pills they mess with my stomach a bit but I know i want a normal female system and i dont want to have my chances for cancer to 50% higher. I dont know any thoughts? IM sure veryones body is unique but this seems weird so many are having similar issues.
Angelsrose77 - I have had injections for about 3 years about 3 a year. It helps the pain but i think since its so many its really effecting me. Everyones body is different but im suprised at all these people with menstrual issues.
Nazamuntel334 - I really am concerned. I was given iniections of Kenalog 40 for 15 years and just taken off the drug in December, Now I am huritng, joints hurting, muscels hurt, hand swell and gaining all this weight. What can I do? IS rhe drug out of my system and what can I expect as a reaction?
Pam_crider - I had one kenalog injection back on February 2009 in my upper back. One week later i had profound muscle weakness all over my body; after that developed numbness and tingling, after that extreme weight loss, then extreme pain in arms and legs. Cannot hardly walk at this point and hurts to type for any length of time. Since you are a physician, are these horrible side effects from Kenalog? If so, this drug needs to be taken off of the market now!
Pam_crider - Just following up from my earlier psoting on June 13, 2009. Can the physician on this posting please respond to my question? Currently, I am pursuing legal advice as this drug has ruined my life and I was not infomred of all of the side effects. The only thing I was told was that I could have a slight headache!!
Llcush - With all do respect doctor, These drugs are very important it's how they are given and how much they are given. But when you go to a dermatologist for eczema on your hands and he gives you 10 Kenalog-40 injections in 15 months. And one ends up with Cushing's, Adrenal Insufficiency,thinning skin,depression,anxiety,cuts and bruises all over your body that don't heal, memory and vision problems there is something wrong! I was a healthy 40 yr old lady full of energy and life. The misuse of Kenalog from my doctor has consumed my health and my life. Regulations need to be put in place with this drug, maybe a signed consent form each time it is given telling people the side effects. The only thing my doctor said is that I would lose weight he never informed me of any side effects. I could have died from Adrenal Insufficiency.
Rcglenn - I just had one trigger point injection with Kenalog & Bupivacaine and now I've had 3 menstrual cycles in less than 30 days and I've never been irregular and I'm only 27. Help! What do I do to get better?
Chicago Nick - This stuff is a miracle cure for my leg dermatitis or eczema or whatever you wanna call it, it gets so bad it's all scabby and crusty and emanates clear fluid its so bad and nothing works. No creams, soaking, this, that nothing.
However this stuff makes it go away in literal days and lasts for months at a time. Not only that it also helps me with edema I get in my legs from being somewhat sedentary from crippling MS and I'm a 46 year old man. It's a wonder drug.
The prednisone creams and all that stuff doesn't even touch helping it and much of that junk costs you arms and legs if you don't have insurance and even then can still be costly.
I don't know why it works so well and with the information that it does since I see this all over the net when searching like I did today as "why does it work so well' when everything else suckkks so much. Money money money. 90 here for a visit, 120 there, 185 there. That's why.
Chicago Nick - Actually the last 2 sentences are kind of misspoken and missing a word making it illogical
So, sorry.... when I meant it to say was this "I don't know why so many don't know about this nor did I after spending all kinds of money and time going here and there and then here this one injection works so well and so quickly with little side effect at all.
Which then makes you wonder why when it does work so definitively well they sell all this other useless crud...Money money money is sadly why if you ask me. :( Is what I meant to say ;)
Ihatekenolog - To Chicago Nick,that is great that the Kenolog worked so well for you as it does for others too.But as i see it,there are more people that get bad side effects then good ones like me.I only had one injection in the knee (Kenolog & lidoderm) i almost went into cardiac arrest the first night,hives on my head for 10 days,scratched my feet until they bleed for 3 weeks.Had a migraine for the entire month of June.Now it is 3 months since and i have breakouts on my chin area (acne) & my hair is thinning.You have to outweigh the good with the bad.The doctors really need to look into it.I told the doctor,Please dont give me this injection if it will in any way spped my heart up because i have MVP "Mitral Valve Prolapse"....Good Luck & God Bless to all of you.I will never get one again.
Corticosteroid Risks - Dear Pam_Crider,
If you are still following these posts, please let me know if the side effects subsided and if so (and I hope so!), how long it took. I had a similar reaction to Kenalog, although I had 4 epidural injections (total of 200 mgs) over 6 weeks. It's been 5 months since the last injection I have have been suffering from many of the side effects you listed including weight loss, constant pain in arms and legs, tingling, particularly acute in hands and feet. The manufacturer told me that these side effects are listed in the package insert material (true - I found the material online), that they have received reports of similar side effects and that Kenalog is not supposed to be used for epidural injections. I was told by 2 doctors (not the injection jocks who won't acknowledge that corticosteroids carry any serious side effects) that Kenalog irritated my nerves rather than calming them, however beyond this explanation there doesn't seem to be any real understanding of the workings of this drug. It seems that most doctors have a blind spot when it comes to the side effects of the drugs they use on a regular basis. Any feedback from you or others would be greatly appreciated.
Beware Depo-medrol - I'm still suffering from the horrible side effects of just one depo-medrol trigger point injection (20 mg) administered 6 months ago. Mainly, terrible nerve pain and fatigue persist. Other side effects including hair loss, insomnia, menstrual irregularities have essentially resolved. I've done lots of research and consulted with many doctors about this reaction. Sadly, there seem to be no answers about how long it takes to recover, probably because the workings of corticosteroids - both good and bad - are not fully understood and everyone reacts differently to these potent medications. I think I'm on the mend, but very slowly. It seems that corticosteroids are now booming business and generally administered by most doctors in the most cavalier, irresponsible way. PLEASE, everyone who has experienced serious adverse reactions from corticosteroid injections, file a report with the FDA!!!
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