Does Intramuscular Triamcinolone Result in Adrenal Suppression?

Use of intramuscular (IM) triamcinolone is widespread. However, there is a paucity of evidence on its effectiveness and safety in the dermatologic population, and most of the information is “expert opinion”–based. During my residency 35+ years ago, we never administered IM triamcinolone; however, when I joined a practice, it was routine to administer triamcinolone intramuscularly to treat inflammatory dermatoses. Practice varies widely in dosing, site of administration, and timing and dose of repeat injections, as do opinions on the safety of long-term use. Is IM triamcinolone safer than short courses of oral corticosteroids? How many injections might be considered harmless? Is this agent safe for diabetic patients?

These authors administere…