Consumer Information for: TRIESENCE

Consumer Information

Information about the product including what the product is used for, dosage, warnings, proper use and side effects. This summary will not tell you everything about the product. Contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about the product.


What the medication is used for

TRIESENCE is a medicine that is used by your doctor during eye surgery.

What it does

TRIESENCE is a suspension containing tiny white particles. The particles help to make the structures in your eye more clearly visible during surgery. The medicine itself is not being used to treat a condition.

When it should not be used
  • If you are allergic to triamcinolone or any other ingredients in TRIESENCE. For a full list of ingredients please see What the important nonmedicinal ingredients are.
  • If you currently have an eye infection (see your doctor).
  • If you currently have a systemic (throughout the body) fungal infection.
What the medicinal ingredient is

The active ingredient is triamcinolone acetonide. One vial (1 mL) of TRIESENCE contains 40 mg of triamcinolone acetonide.

What the non-medicinal ingredients are

Calcium chloride (dihydrate), carmellose sodium, magnesium chloride (hexahydrate), polysorbate 80, potassium chloride, sodium acetate (trihydrate), sodium citrate, sodium chloride and water for injection. Tiny amounts of sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid may be added to adjust acidity (pH) levels.

What dosage form it comes in

TRIESENCE is a milky white suspension (when shaken). It is available in a pack containing 1 vial of 1 mL of 4% (40 mg/mL) suspension.

LATEX-FREE STOPPER: Stopper is free from natural rubber or natural rubber latex

Warnings and precautions

BEFORE you are given TRIESENCE talk to your doctor if you:

  • have ever had a reaction to triamcinolone or to any of the other ingredients in TRIESENCE.
  • have, or have recently had, an eye infection.
  • have been diagnosed with an active herpes simplex infection in your eye.
  • have an active fungal infection in your body.
  • have diabetes. You may be at a higher risk of developing an increase in eye pressure and/or cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye).
  • are pregnant or might become pregnant. TRIESENCE is not recommended in pregnancy.
  • are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.

After you have been given TRIESENCE, consult your doctor immediately if:

  • you develop intense inflammation or infection in or around the eye, ocular discharge, severe vision loss, or severe eye pain/irritation.

Driving and Using Machines
Eye surgery can temporarily affect your vision and your ability to drive or use machines. Do not drive or use machinery until your vision has returned to normal.

Interactions with this medication

Specific interaction studies have not been conducted with TRIESENCE.

Tell your doctor about all medicines, including eye drops, that you are using or plan to use. Include medicines you bought without a prescription.

Proper use of this medication

Usual Dose

TRIESENCE will be administered by your doctor. The usual dose is less than 1 mL of TRIESENCE (1 to 4 mg of triamcinolone acetonide). The medicine is given by injection inside your eye during surgery. Depending on your condition your doctor may modify the dose.

TRIESENCE is removed from your eye before the end of the surgical procedure.

Do not resume contact lens wear until advised to do so by your doctor.

Overdose

No case of overdose has been reported. Because TRIESENCE is administered by your doctor during surgery, the risk of accidental overdose is very small.

If you suspect you have been given an overdose, contact your doctor, a hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed Dose

TRIESENCE is administered by your doctor during surgery; there is no risk of a missed dose.

Side effects and what to do about them

Like all medicines, TRIESENCE can cause side effects, but not everybody gets them.

If you get a severe allergic reaction after you have been given TRIESENCE, contact your doctor immediately.

Uncommon (affect 1 to 10 people in 1000) side effects include increased pressure in the eye and injury to the back of the eye. Your doctor will check for these side effects when you go back for your follow-up visits after surgery.

Serious side effects and what to do about them
Symptom / effect Talk to your healthcare professional Only if severe Talk to your healthcare professional In all cases
Uncommon
Increased pressure in eye  
Injury to the back of the eye  
Not known
Inflammation or infection in the eye  
Reduced vision  

This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects after being given TRIESENCE contact your doctor.

How to store

Your doctor or nurse will store TRIESENCE at 4° C – 25° C.

Reporting side effects

You can help improve the safe use of health products for Canadians by reporting serious and unexpected side effects to Health Canada. Your report may help to identify new side effects and change the product safety information.
3 ways to report:

  • Online at MedEffect
  • By calling 1-866-234-2345 (toll-free);
  • By completing a Consumer Side Effect Reporting Form and sending it by:
    • Fax toll-free to 1-866-678-6789, or
    • Mail to: Canada Vigilance Program
      Health Canada
      Postal Locator 1908C
      Ottawa, Ontario
      K1A 0K9

Postage paid labels, Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and the adverse reaction reporting guidelines are available on the MedEffectTM Canada Web site at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect.

NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

More information

This document plus the full Product Monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found on the Health Canada website or by contacting the sponsor, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., at:
1-800-363-8883.

This leaflet was prepared by
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc

Last revised: March 8, 2018

TRIESENCE is a registered trademark