Make sure to ask your doctor to prescribe Solu-Cortef  (injectable hydrocortisone) as an Acti-Vial. An acti-vial is a little bottle with 2 parts (like little globes with one section holding liquid, and one holding the solid) which mixes together when you push in the top rubber stopper. We went to pick up solu-cortef from the pharmacy once, and they gave us a little bottle with only the solid medication (like a broken up pill) in it. It would have had to be mixed with the liquid--which wasn’t even given to us until we asked the pharmacy how we were supposed to inject it. They told us that the doctor has to write acti-vial on the prescription to get the acti-vial. When it comes time to give your child an injection, you want it to be as easy as possible, you don’t want to have to worry about measuring and mixing.  Also make sure you are given a prescription for the syringes and needles (ask for some extras so that you can practice on an orange (which is how we learned)--but don’t waste your solu-cortef on the oranges, use water. A nurse showed us how to give the injection. If you Contact Cares Foundation, they may be able to send you information aboout Adrenal Crisis and how to give injections. We received an Emergency brochure from them awhile back.

Janelle