This happened 9 years ago. And if you are a US-based company, you would not have been allowed in Cuba at all at that time.

I am deeply sorry to hear about the challenging situation your friend is facing in Cuba. Anaphylactic reactions can be life-threatening, and having access to epinephrine is crucial for emergency treatment.

While I don't have direct information about obtaining epinephrine injections in Cuba, I want to emphasize the importance of reaching out to the local medical authorities, hospitals, or clinics for guidance on obtaining the necessary medication. They might have alternatives or solutions to ensure your friend's safety.

In urgent medical situations, air ambulance services like Bluedot Air Ambulance can be valuable resources for ensuring prompt medical transport to a suitable healthcare facility. Bluedot is known for its global reach and quick response times in arranging medical evacuations. If the situation escalates or your friend requires specialized medical attention not available locally, considering an air ambulance for transport to a more advanced medical facility may be an option to explore.

I think only if she continues to have problems.

Sorry about the wrist.  Is the allergist going to do any testing?

Ouch on the writs.  I hope it does not cause her too much trouble.  And I hope this will be the end of the reactions!  I would feel more comfortable having epi on hand after an experience like that.

Just got off te phone with DD.  it is not related, other than in a Murphy's Law type of way.  But DD sprained her wrist.  She was running and tripped on broken pavement.  First time running since being diagnosed with the mono that started the whole ordeal.  Spent most of yesterday getting checked out first at te university health center, then the hospital.

   Glad that at least it isn't something new and common-- and that she would need to LEARN major avoidance skills to manage.

You bit your tongue on the gradual taper on the steroid, right?   

She went to a good allergist today.  The allergist's theory is that mono threw her immune system into overdrive.  Then her body went nuts over the typhoid vaccine.  The prednisone calmed it down, but when she went off it (and she did taper down), she had a rebound effect.  So now she is going up to a higher dose, then tapering off very gradually, over a six week period.  She goes back for a recheck just before finishing the lowest dose. 

The doctor said that if she is ok after tapering off, they may never know whether her theory was correct or if it was something else.  Which, to me, means carrying the epi-pen long-term, because who knows whether she may reacted to something that she seldom gets exposed to?

Adrenal crisis is not something you want to happen.

Before I started taking daily pred, whenever I had a short course, it always included a taper.  When docs up my dose now for a sickness, it usually includes a taper as well - usually so many days at 40mg, same at 30, same at 20, and then back to my daily dose of 15mg - which we recently reduced to 12.

Stopping it suddenly carries a risk of adrenal crisis - basically your adrenal glands can stop working or be suppressed when you are on pred, so if they don't kick back in when you stop, really ugly things can happen to you.  There is a much, much lower risk of this if you are only on it for a few days though.

If it's a relatively low dose, then there may be little need-- also, the younger the patient, the less severe the consequences of an abrupt step-down.

For adults and adolescents, though-- bad news to stop a moderate or high dose without a stepdown.

It's always been liquid, same dose. The only instructions are to take it everyday or risk of death. Nice to know not a single med person in the equation warned us. Ever. At least I know to ask now.

Quote from: twinturbo on February 01, 2014, 10:42:58 AM
Does this apply to the 3-7 day dose allergist or ER prescribes for kids after reaction? The pharmacy or prescribing physicians never mentioned this. OMG.

Initial dose with tapering dosage is usually included automatically in those regimens-- that is, you might have a script that instructs; "take 4 tablets daily with food for first two days, then one tablet morning and night for two days, then one tablet each morning for two days."

DD has been on three day courses of prednisone several times for swollen tonsils with strep. 

She never had to taper down before. Or at least not until the first round recently, when the family doctor here put her on it before the trip.  Then she was on the highest dose fot three days, stepped
down for three days, then the lowest dose for another three.  And DD thought that was strange, and didn't really know that tapering off is usually how it is done.

Does this apply to the 3-7 day dose allergist or ER prescribes for kids after reaction? The pharmacy or prescribing physicians never mentioned this. OMG.