What is the Difference Between Triamcinolone and Hydrocortisone

The key difference between triamcinolone and hydrocortisone is that triamcinolone is suitable for only a maximum of two weeks, whereas hydrocortisone is suitable for long-term use for skin disorders.

Triamcinolone and hydrocortisone are important medications used in treating skin disorders. However, there are many other medical applications of these drugs as well.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Triamcinolone
3. What is Hydrocortisone
4. Triamcinolone vs Hydrocortisone in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Triamcinolone vs Hydrocortisone

What is Triamcinolone?

Triamcinolone is a type of medication that is useful in treating some skin diseases, allergies, and rheumatic disorders. We can also use it to prevent the worsening of asthma and COPD. There are many routes of administration for this drug, including oral administration, injection into a muscle, and inhalation. The common trade names of this drug are Kenalog, Nasacort, Adcortyl, etc.

The bioavailability of triamcinolone is about 90%. The protein binding ability of this drug is about 68%. The metabolism of triamcinolone occurs in the liver, and excretion occurs through urine and faeces. The onset of action for this drug is about 24 hours, and the elimination half-life is around 200-300 minutes.

When considering the medical uses of triamcinolone, it is useful in treating a number of different medical conditions, including eczema, alopecia areata, lichen sclerosus, psoriasis, allergies, arthritis, temporal arteritis, uveitis, etc.

There can be some side effects of triamcinolone. These side effects are similar to that of corticoids. This medication has been in use for a long time, but adverse effects are very few. In rare cases, it can result in severe side effects like gastrointestinal bleeding and acute infections, and impaired glucose tolerance. Moreover, using this drug for a long time can cause coughing, sinusitis, metabolic syndrome, high blood sugar, joint swelling, etc. Generally, using this medication during pregnancy is safe. The activity of triamcinolone happens by decreasing inflammation and immune system activity.

What is Hydrocortisone?

Hydrocortisone is a hormone cortisol that is used as a medication. We can use this drug to treat diseases such as adrenocortical insufficiency, high blood calcium, thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, asthma, and COPD. The routes of administration of this medication include oral administration, topical application, or injection. The most common trade names of this medication are A-hydrocort, Cortef, Solucortef, etc.

There can be some side effects of using hydrocortisone, such as the increased risk of infection and edema. Moreover, there can be long-term side effects such as osteoporosis, upset stomach, physical weakness, bruising, and candidiasis. The safety of using it during pregnancy is unclear.

The mode of action of hydrocortisone is through working as an anti-inflammatory agent and by immune suppression. This medication came into use in 1941. Chemically, we can name it as a naturally occurring pregnane steroid. There are a variety of hydrocortisone esters in the market for medical use.

Through injection, hydrocortisone is used for treating severe allergic reactions. The topical application of this medication is important in treating eczema, allergic rashes, psoriasis, itching, and inflammatory skin conditions. These medications are often available over the counter, without prescription in many countries.

What is the Difference Between Triamcinolone and Hydrocortisone?

Triamcinolone and hydrocortisone are important medications in treating skin disorders. The key difference between triamcinolone and hydrocortisone is that triamcinolone is suitable for only a maximum of two weeks, whereas hydrocortisone is suitable for long-term use for skin disorders.

The below infographic presents the differences between triamcinolone and hydrocortisone in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Triamcinolone vs Hydrocortisone

Triamcinolone is a type of medication that is useful in treating some skin diseases, allergies, and rheumatic disorders. Hydrocortisone is a hormone cortisol that is used as a medication. The key difference between triamcinolone and hydrocortisone is that triamcinolone is suitable for only a maximum of two weeks, whereas hydrocortisone is suitable for long-term use for skin disorders.

Reference:

1. “Triamcinolone Acetonide Topical: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing“. Webmd.com, 2022.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Aristocort Cream” By Editor182 (talk) – I (Editor182 (talk)) created this work entirely by myself. (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Tube of hydrocortisone cream” By Father Goose – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia