Hydrocortisone (Alkindi) for the treatment of adrenal insufficiency

Alkindi is available in the form of granule-filled capsules at doses of 0.5 to 5 mg.

The capsule is opened and the granules are emptied out directly onto the child’s tongue, or sprinkled on a spoonful of soft food. Once the granules have been taken, the child should immediately have a drink to make sure that the granules are all swallowed down.

The dose is adjusted individually in order to replace the hormones that are missing.

The hormone medication hydrocortisone has long been a well-established drug. So far, newborn babies, children and teenagers (up to the age of 18) have been given medications that haven’t been specifically approved for them.

In 2018, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany) looked into whether Alkindi has any advantages or disadvantages for newborn babies, children and teenagers who have an adrenal insufficiency when compared with other hydrocortisone drugs.

But the manufacturer did not provide any suitable data with which to do the assessment.

This information summarizes the main results of a review produced by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany). The review was commissioned by the German Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) as part of the “early benefit assessment of medications.” On the basis of the review and the hearings received, the G-BA passed a resolution on the added benefit of hydrocortisone (Alkindi).