Kenalog is not a first line treatment for hay fever and should only be considered when simple measures have proven ineffective. It is recommended to try medications that are available over the counter or from your Pharmacist or General Practitioner in the first instance.
However, if these treatments fail to control the symptoms of hay fever, a Kenalog injection may be beneficial. What makes Kenalog injections unique is that oral steroids are generally only effective for less than 24 hours. Once the injection is administered the effects can last for at least 4 weeks, and for some, can cover a whole hay fever season.
Experts have said allergies like hay fever could cause mental health issues by interfering with feel-good hormones in the body. Mounting evidence suggests people who have allergies are more likely to have anxiety or show similar behaviours. According to research distress caused by being sick could raise the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn tampers with serotonin - a hormone responsible for mood. Allergic reactions cause inflammation as an immune response, the internal swelling has also been linked to conditions like depression. Another biological explanation is that inflammatory chemicals in the sinuses leak into the blood and reach the brain and nervous system.
Around 10% of hay fever sufferers find that readily available treatments, such as over the counter antihistamine tablets and nasal sprays, are ineffective and they continue to struggle to manage their symptoms. As an alternative, sufferers may consider the Kenalog™ corticosteroid injection. Steroids are some of the most powerful anti-inflammatory medications available and they work by suppressing the body's immune response, thereby reducing symptoms.
how do they work?
Kenalog injection contains the active ingredient triamcinolone, which is a type of medicine called a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are hormones that are produced naturally by the adrenal glands. They have many important functions in the body, including control of inflammatory responses. Triamcinolone reduces inflammation by stopping cells from releasing chemicals that normally help produce immune and allergic responses.
This can help control a wide number of disease states involving excessive inflammation, including severe allergic reactions, inflammation of the lungs in asthma and inflammation of the joints in arthritis, and a proven treatment for hay fever sufferers. You must be over the age of 18 years old and under 70 years old to receive this treatment.
are there any side effects?
COMMON: Common side effects include pain/discomfort at injection point, stomach pains and bloating, nausea, headache, pins and needles, dizziness and skin changes such as itching or a scaly rash. These side effects generally pass within a few days of having the injection, though some patients can experience these for longer.
LESS COMMON: More rarely, side effects such as excessive sweating, changes in menstrual periods, increased blood pressure, increased blood sugar, thromboembolism and weight gain might be noted. Fat atrophy (loss of fatty tissue in a localised area of the body that can cause pitting, scarring and bumps), adrenal suppression (where your body doesn't produce enough hormones), fluid retention, heart failure and hypertension.
We do not recommend or treat patients with Kenalog™ injections if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is also unsuitable for people with diabetes. You must inform any medical practitioner that you are receiving this treatment prior to any medical procedure, including vaccines. Please see our Q&A section below for other excluded medical conditions.
To view our aftercare information for Kenalog™ shots CLICK HERE
We want you to have clear information about your choice to have a Kenalog injection to relieve the symptoms of hay-fever. It is really important you understand this information so please discuss any questions you have with us prior to your treatment.
Kenalog is an injection that is injected into the buttock (gluteal) muscle. This is known as an Intra-Muscular (IM) injection. The skin surface is thoroughly cleaned with an alcohol swab prior to the injection. It takes a few seconds and is not a very painful injection as the substance itself is not irritating to the tissue.
A Kenalog injection helps many people with their symptoms of severe hay-fever. For many people it completely relieves the symptoms for the entire season and for others it reduces the severity of the symptoms to a point where adding other treatments can allow life as normal. Occasionally a second dose of Kenalog may be needed. It is not recommended that anyone have more than 80mg (2 injections) per season except in exceptional circumstances.
Steroids are powerful medications designed to reduce the body's inflammatory and allergic responses. An injection of Kenalog 40mg is approximately equivalent to the effects you would get from taking a 5mg tablet of Prednisolone every day for about 3 weeks.
PROCEDURE TIME
The injection takes just seconds, though your appointment will last approximately 15 minutes.
COMFORT LEVEL
A small baby pinch at the injection point. Little to no discomfort.
RESULTS
You may notice changes within 24 hours.
