Canadian Addison Society

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Update on Cortef 10 and 20 mg Availability

Posted December 22, 2022

Please check the most recent drug shortage status via the following links:

Cortef 10 mg tablet - Actual shortage. Drug is on allocation. Ordering restrictions have been put in place.

Cortef 20 mg tablet - Anticipated shortage. Drug is on allocation. Ordering restrictions have been put in place.

medSask has a helpful conservation strategy document:
https://medsask.usask.ca/sites/medsask/files/2023-02/hydrocortisone-shortage-en.pdf

Please consult your healthcare provider to ensure you always have an adequate supply of tablets on hand.

Update on Cortef 10 mg, Florinef and Solu-Cortef Availability

Posted October 17, 2022

Please check the most recent drug shortage status via the following links:

Solu-Cortef – Act-o-Vials

All of the Solu-Cortef® Act-O-Vials are now on allocation status (i.e., some restrictions apply and not all pharmacies may have a supply)
medSask has a helpful conservation strategy and dose conversion document here (updated September 2022): https://medsask.usask.ca/documents/drug-shortages-pdfs/hydrocortisone-sodium-succinate.pdf

Updated Patient Medication Information Section from Product Monograph:
https://www.pfizer.ca/sites/default/files/202203/Solu-Cortef_PI_EN_257322_04Mar2022.pdf

Florinef - 0.1 mg tablet

Shortage resolved - product to remain on allocation based on historical demand until end of October to ensure fair distribution

Cortef – 10 mg tablet

Shortage resolved

Following is the current status for the availability of Cortef 10 mg, Florinef, and Solu-Cortef

Posted July 21, 2022

This information has become very dynamic and is becoming challenging for us to keep you up to date. As such we are once again including with this posting, the link for Health Canada's 'Drug Shortage Report'. Please keep these links handy so you may check the status whenever you wish. We encourage you to use it often.

Drug Shortage Report for CORTEF (drugshortagescanada.ca)
Drug Shortage Report for SOLU-CORTEF (drugshortagescanada.ca)
Drug Shortage Report for FLORINEF (drugshortagescanada.ca)

CSEM website:

DRUG SHORTAGES - CSEM The Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (endo-metab.ca)

In addition, we selected the following Pfizer Canada information as a brief explanation regarding Cortef 10 mg US product:
There is a critical shortage of CORTEF (Hydrocortisone Tablets, 10 mg) in Canada. In order to mitigate the current market shortage, Health Canada has permitted the exceptional, temporary importation and sale of US-labelled CORTEF, by Pfizer Canada ULC and has added this product to the List of Drugs for Exceptional Importation and Sale (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drugshortages/list.html).

The US-labelled product has the same strength, dosage form, and route of administration as the Canadian-authorized product, but the products differ with respect to the packaging.

To mitigate the current shortage, a limited quantity of US-labelled CORTEF will be made available to the Canadian market. Pfizer is making every effort to expedite the resupply of the Canadian-authorized CORTEF.


Possible FLORINEF and CORTEF Shortages

Posted June 10, 2022

The following is the current drug shortage status as per information sourced from Health Canada and Pfizer websites.

Florinef - 0.1mg tablet

Drug Shortage Report for FLORINEF (drugshortagescanada.ca)

shortage end date 2022-06-15

Report ID: 159434: Drug Identification Number: 02086026: Brand name: FLORINEF: Common or Proper name: FLUDROCORTISONE 21-ACETATE: Company Name: PALADIN LABS INC.


Cortef - 10mg tablet

Drug Shortage Report for CORTEF (drugshortagescanada.ca)

shortage end date 2022-09-30

Report ID: 157486: Drug Identification Number: 00030910: Brand name: CORTEF: Common or Proper name: CORTEF: Company Name: PFIZER CANADA ULC: Market Status: MARKETED


Solu-Cortef - 10 x 2 mL vial

Drug Shortage Report for Solu-Cortef

Report ID: 162196: Drug Identification Number: 00030600: Brand name: SOLU-CORTEF: Common or Proper name: SOLU-CORTEF: Company Name: PFIZER CANADA ULC: Market Status



You may keep yourself up to date by using the links shown above.


COVID-19 Booster vaccination for patients with adrenal insufficiency?

We have received many questions about booster vaccinations for COVID-19. My recommendation is to get the booster vaccination as soon as you can (unless you have a specific contra-indication).

On October 29, 2021, the Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) released its latest statement. They recommend booster vaccinations for several groups, but at present NACI does not include adrenal insufficiency patients in these groups.

The recommendations for booster vaccinations for patients with adrenal insufficiency are stronger in other countries. The National Adrenal Diseases Foundation (NADF) advises booster shots for ‘those who are 65 years or older or have adrenal insufficiency’. The United Kingdom Addison’s Self Help Group advises a booster vaccination for “people 16-64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious illness or death from coronavirus” – and this includes patients with adrenal insufficiency.

Overall, my recommendation is to get a COVID-19 booster vaccination as soon as you are eligible in your health region.
Dr. Stan Van Uum


Notice of Fraudulent emails regarding vaccines / Avis de courriels frauduleux concernant les vaccins

Please take note of the important information below regarding fraudulent outreach on COVID-19 vaccine supply:

The RCMP Federal Policing Joint Intelligence Group (JIG) has prepared a Bulletin to address the continued unsolicited offers of COVID-19 vaccine for sale. The Bulletin has been shared with law enforcement partners and government agencies in all provinces and territories, including their procurement and departmental security officials.
Please note that, to date, two coronavirus vaccines have been approved for use in Canada — the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and the Moderna vaccine. The only way to access these COVID-19 vaccines is through clinics organized or endorsed by local public health authority in collaboration with Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments.
If you wish to report having received potentially fraudulent correspondence on COVID-19 vaccines, please contact Health Canada at https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/apps/radar/MD-IM-0005.08.html


What about taking the COVID-19 vaccine?

Anticipating your questions re the much-anticipated Covid-19 vaccine, we asked our Medical Advisor, Dr. Van Uum, for his advice on what if any precautions we should take before receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.
Here are his thoughts on the subject. If still uncertain, we are encouraged to check with our own Doctor.

“The discussion goes between two issues:

i. Is getting a vaccination (flu shot or the COVID shot) a stressful event that requires stress dosing?
ii. Is there a potential negative effect of steroids on the effectiveness of the COVID vaccine?

Starting with the second question, theoretically high dose steroids could change the response of the immune system, and possibly reduce effectiveness of the COVID vaccine. However, there is no published data on the effect of steroids on COVID.

There is some data regarding flu shots in children who are on prednisone, and there is no clear effect of the prednisone on the effectiveness of the vaccination.

However, as these are different types of vaccinations, these results cannot simply be extrapolated from the flu shot to the COVID vaccine.

Therefore, I would suggest that an up dose (single extra dose up to doubling), would be OK. I would recommend not to use a higher dose unless there are specific reasons to do so.”

Editor’s Note: The terms 'up dose' and 'stress dose' are synonymous as used above.


Return to School & Covid-19

We have received a lot of questions regarding returning to school. These questions are very pertinent for patients with adrenal insufficiency, whether they are a teacher, a parent, or a student. There is limited evidence to guide us.
Here are a couple of considerations:

  1. As a person with adrenal insufficiency, you are considered to have moderately increased risk for infections. While adrenal crisis may occur, there is no clear evidence that there is an increased risk to develop a severe course of COVID-19 disease. Your focus should be on mitigation of the risk to be infected (which cannot be reduced to zero, given that the COVID-19 virus is present in the population in general). The risk will be dependent on what measures the school has put in place, e.g., Is there physical distancing? (which I agree may be hard for young children); is there a mask policy? Is there a school bus or transportation policy? Are there sufficient hand hygiene supplies? Will there be the implementation of hand hygiene measures? What is the cleaning protocol? Importantly, is there screening for symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., standard symptom checklist to use every day), and what happens with those who screen positive? Of note, some data suggest that children under 10 years of age are probably less likely to transmit the COVID-19 virus than older children or adults. Further, in case there is a case of COVID-19 in the school, is there a robust tracing system in place?

  2. Safety with respect to physical distancing is important. If your work/school environment cannot provide that, e.g., when teaching young children, then alternative ways of work, e.g., from home, or change to an office, may need to be considered - perhaps you could switch to a role for online learning support. I suspect that the school board may not have a fully developed plan to address this for the teachers or for students. You may need to ask your doctor for a support letter. For students, alternative ways of studying, e.g., from home, may need to be considered.

  3. All risk assessments are very much dependent on the epidemiology of the COVID-19 virus. How many people in the community you live in are affected (case burden), and how many cases are diagnosed (community transmission)? This may change depending on the area or province/territory where you live. Moreover, this local epidemiology may change over time. Therefore, even if you decide to return to your work/school now, you should always be prepared to changing circumstances, and have the ability to switch to an alternate plan, e.g., if a second wave of infections were to develop. I would suggest developing an individualized plan now with your healthcare team, rather than wait until the wave is there.

In addition to the following, you may also want to consult the Canadian Pediatric Society for updated links and resources:


Coronavirus Reference Links

Please find the links below to various sites regarding the Coronavirus.

As per our medical director with the Canadian Addison Society, those with adrenal insufficiencies are not more likely to get the virus but if you do get sick, you should follow the guidelines for the management of stress while seeking medical attention.

We encourage those with Adrenal Insufficiency to have extra medications on hand. It is suggested you have a 90 day supply at hand, along with emergency solu-cortef vials.
Do consider working from home if possible should your workplace pose a health risk during this pandemic.

STRESS DOSING FOR CHILDREN / GUIDANCE
(SICK KIDS HOSPITAL STRESS DOSE PLAN)
UNTOLD STORIES OF THE ER - "ICE COLD MOM"

The video you are about to see is titled “ICE COLD MOM” and was originally a segment on the popular TV series UNTOLD STORIES OF THE ER. We are grateful to the Executive Producers, Bob Niemack and Allan Harmon, for use of this segment highlighting the life or death nature of an adrenal / Addisonian crisis. The video also outlines the challenges emergency doctors face in diagnosing Addison’s disease and/or Adrenal Insufficiency and treating an adrenal crisis.

The woman brought into the ER and played by an actress is depicting the experience of Shannon Meister, a longtime member of our South/Central Ontario Support Group.

The emergency events that unfold are not necessarily unique. Many ER Physicians may have never faced what is eventually diagnosed as Addison’s disease/Adrenal Insufficiency. All of the symptoms exhibited in this scenario are not necessarily typical of an Addisonian or adrenal crisis.

Enjoy the Video!

Spoiler Alert...
The following information will divulge the outcome but the video is certainly still worth watching to see the process that was followed and how diagnosis was eventually made.

In an ideal world, CBC (Blood tests) and Electrolytes would initially be tested. The testing of electrolytes is often overlooked and may dramatically reduce the time to diagnosis and prevent unnecessary tests not relevant to treatment.

Shannon’s treatment path included: IV fluids, raising her body temperature, giving antibiotics. Electrolyte tests revealed low sodium and high potassium results. It was at this point that Dr. Kapoor suspected Addison’s disease. Her sodium levels were raised slowly to avoid complications. His decision to give hydrocortisone before getting confirmatory lab results (hormone testing) may have saved Shannon’s life. Injectable hydrocortisone was immediately given with this suspected diagnosis.

Various shock states: hypoglycemic (glucose gel given), hypovolemic (fluids), hypothermic (“Ice cold mom”), septic/infectious (antibiotics given), drug overdose (confusion / "incoherent") were considered by Dr. Kapoor up to that point. This video depicts a chain of events whereby the suspicion and/or confirmation of an Addisonian or adrenal crisis resulted in immediate administration of hydrocortisone (glucocorticoid of choice) with saline support. Dr. Kapoor states it well: “As an emergency physician I wanted to ‘get it right’”! The THREE rights for an adrenal crisis: right medication (hydrocortisone) at the right time (immediately) at the right dose (adult dose – 100 mg). Hydrocortisone is the treatment that saved Shannon's life.

This video also aligns with our EMS initiative whereby any individual with Addison's Disease / adrenal insufficiency carrying injectable hydrocortisone will require a pre-hospital injection if an adrenal crisis is suspected (before transport to hospital).

This is the positive outcome in this video: "Thank you for saving my life". Unfortunately, many die because of delayed hydrocortisone treatment for confirmed or suspected conditions of adrenal insufficiency.

The Society also has a description of symptoms posted here.

Thank you for watching!
The Canadian Addison Society
August 2018


Exciting EMS news to report…

We are extremely pleased to share the latest EMS news from Newfoundland & Labrador as of Sept 25, 2018. Following are the intros and links to media reports both print and video, all of which announce and/or discuss the implementation of the new potentially lifesaving EMS protocol for suspected adrenal crisis. We are very grateful to all that helped to make this new protocol a reality.


NTV Evening Newshour Early Edition - Tue, September 18, 2018

LIFE-SAVING MEDICATION TO BE ADMINISTERED BY PARAMEDICS: Paramedics in the province that now able to administer a shot that could save lives.
["Dr. Brian Metcalfe"]


NTV Evening Newshour - Tue, September 18, 2018

THE CARTER FILE: A milestone in our health care system today; paramedics will now be able to administer a life-saving drug.
["Dr. Brian Metcalfe"; "Dr. Carole Joyce"; "Paula Courage"]


“The Last Remaining Light”

We are pleased to participate in the global introduction of a short film “The Last Remaining Light”. A link to the film is located at the bottom of this article. The film was produced and directed by Martin Wallgren and co-produced by Addisonian and Team Addison bicyclist Martin Norrman (Martin Norrman also founded the non-profit Swedish Addison’s Association https://www.addisongruppen.se).

Following is a short intro to the film:
This is the most brilliant, touching and phenomenal movie for Addison's ever, letting the world know more about primary Addison's (it applies greatly to all forms of AI) along with breathtaking cinematography and narration. It is the story of the illness, fight and triumphs of co-producer and actor Martin Norrman, in coordination with producer and director Martin Wallgren. This movie was made with the goal of raising awareness of AI diseases, and we can't thank Martin and his team enough for their years of hard work and dedication to this important project, and for this awesome film.
While some people diagnosed with primary Addison's might not feel they can resume the level of activity Martin does in this amazing film, they will definitely see their own story in his.

PLEASE SHARE THIS MOVIE LINK WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW:
https://vimeo.com/martinwallgren/thelastremaininglight
The more we can raise awareness of Addison's and other forms of AI, the more we will increase our diseases' funding, research, treatment options and maybe one day find a cure. This will be the best 15 minutes you will ever have with Addison’s. You can view this film in many languages by clicking the “CC” button at the top.

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