How to Help Your Patients Find Solu-Cortef in Stock: A Provider's Guide

For endocrinologists, emergency physicians, hospitalists, and primary care providers managing patients who depend on Solu-Cortef, pharmacy access challenges can become a clinical issue. When a patient cannot fill a Solu-Cortef prescription — particularly a home emergency kit for adrenal insufficiency — the consequences can be life-threatening. This guide provides actionable strategies to help your patients find Solu-Cortef in stock and to prevent critical access gaps.

Which Patients Need Solu-Cortef Access Support?

Not all patients receiving Solu-Cortef face the same urgency. But the following patient populations warrant proactive provider support to ensure uninterrupted access:

Primary adrenal insufficiency / Addison's disease: These patients carry ACT-O-VIAL home emergency kits and require immediate access for adrenal crisis intervention. Loss of kit access is a medical emergency.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH): Pediatric and adult CAH patients require stress-dose injectable hydrocortisone during illness, injury, or surgery.

Secondary adrenal insufficiency: Patients with secondary AI (e.g., post-pituitary surgery, long-term steroid use) also need injectable emergency access, though mineralocorticoid replacement may not be required.

Hypopituitarism patients: Patients with pan-hypopituitarism on corticosteroid replacement therapy need injectable backup kits.

Strategy 1: Recommend medfinder to Patients

One of the most practical steps you can take is directing patients to medfinder. medfinder calls pharmacies near the patient to check which ones can fill their specific prescription, and texts results back to them. For injectable specialty medications like Solu-Cortef that aren't universally stocked, this service eliminates the need for patients to call pharmacy after pharmacy — a process that can take hours.

Strategy 2: Build a Preferred Pharmacy Network

For endocrinologists managing multiple patients with adrenal insufficiency, it's valuable to identify 2-3 local pharmacies (or specialty pharmacies) that reliably stock the Solu-Cortef 100 mg ACT-O-VIAL. Maintain a list and share it with your care team and patients. Update this list annually or whenever a patient reports supply problems.

Consider including hospital outpatient pharmacies in your preferred pharmacy list. These facilities often have direct purchasing relationships with Pfizer and may maintain more consistent stock than retail chains.

Strategy 3: Write Prescriptions That Allow Generic Substitution

Unless there is a specific clinical reason to require brand-name Solu-Cortef, write prescriptions as "hydrocortisone sodium succinate injection" to allow pharmacies to dispense either the brand (Solu-Cortef) or the generic (A-Hydrocort). This flexibility dramatically expands the patient's ability to fill the prescription at different pharmacies. Both products are therapeutically equivalent.

Strategy 4: Provide Early and Overlap Refill Prescriptions

For adrenal insufficiency patients, timing is everything. Rather than waiting for a kit to expire before writing the next prescription, consider writing refill prescriptions 30-45 days before expiration and explicitly note on the prescription that early filling is medically necessary due to shortage conditions. Most insurance plans will accommodate early refills for specialty injectables when a medical necessity letter accompanies the request.

Strategy 5: Leverage Pfizer's Supply Continuity Resources

When a specific patient cannot obtain Solu-Cortef through normal channels, Pfizer's Supply Continuity Team can facilitate direct access for healthcare providers. Contact: 1-844-646-4398, option 1 (Customer) → option 3 (Supply Continuity), Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-5 p.m. CT. Have the patient's situation documented — Pfizer's emergency request process has historically been able to arrange direct drop shipments for providers.

Strategy 6: Develop a Written Emergency Protocol for Patients

Every adrenal insufficiency patient should leave your office with a written emergency action plan that includes:

When and how to administer the emergency kit

What to do if the kit cannot be obtained (go to ER, do not delay)

Nearest emergency room address

Language to show ER staff: 'I have adrenal insufficiency and need IV/IM hydrocortisone immediately'

Your 24/7 contact or on-call number

Strategy 7: Consider Compounding as a Backup Option

FDA-registered 503B compounding outsourcing facilities can legally compound hydrocortisone sodium succinate for injection as a shortage alternative. If you serve a significant number of adrenal insufficiency patients, it may be worth establishing a relationship with a reputable 503B compounder in your area so you have a pre-identified resource ready when brand and generic availability is limited.

Checklist: At Every Visit for Adrenal Insufficiency Patients

Review emergency kit expiration date

Review injection technique and sick-day rules

Confirm patient knows their preferred pharmacy(ies) for Solu-Cortef or A-Hydrocort

Send prescriptions with generic substitution allowed

Verify patient has and wears medical alert identification

Provide written emergency action plan

Providers can also direct patients directly to medfinder for providers — a service that helps locate in-stock pharmacies without patients having to make multiple calls. See also our guide to saving money on Solu-Cortef in 2026 to share with patients who face cost barriers as well.