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Traveling with Humira (and how to keep it cold!)

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Posted 2/4/2009 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all! So I have a few interrelated questions. The first is if anyone has ever had to fly with humira. I might be needing to take it with me in the near future on a two-hour(ish) flight, which, if you add in the time at the airport, getting there & leaving, becomes at least a 5+ hour time frame. Can you take stuff like that onboard in the US anymore? Any ideas for how to keep it cold long enough?
Also, there is a three-week trip to Europe I'm thinking about taking next summer. There would be a lot of traveling to different cities and countries after we get there as well. Has anyone traveled like this with humira before? is it easier to take it with you (and try to keep it cold while you travel) or figure out a way to get the prescription while you're there? is the trip more trouble than it's worth right now? Thanks :)
Posted 2/4/2009 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Here's a crazy question - any chance you can take the shot a day or two early or take it when you return? That would save you a lot of hassle. As for the 3 week trip... again any chance you can delay your shot? I know it's not the best idea AND... you might not be able to because some people really feel it if they don't take their meds on schedule, but... that would eliminate the hassle. Then again people have to take insulin shots so I'm sure there's some kind of protocol. Not sure about the keeping it cold since no liquds or gels over 3oz allowed.
Posted 2/4/2009 10:36 PM (GMT 0)

For your domestic trip, the best thing to do would be talk to the airline and the airport(s) you'll be flying through.  If there are special forms or whatever you'll want to get those taken care of ahead of time.  I don't know what the rules are about coolers anymore, so you'll need to get that figured out, too.  I would also get a letter from your doctor to take with you.  And leave plenty of time to get through security.  An awful lot of stuff is at the descretion of the screeners these days, so even if you've got everything they told you to have, you still might have to ask for a supervisor to get it passed through.  Or, they may not even blink.  Who knows anymore.

You might also want to check with the drug company- would sending Humira through an xray machine damage it in any way?  If so, it will have to be hand screened.

It shouldn't be too hard to find people to explain what the security process will be.  A lot more people are taking Humira these days- you can't turn on the TV anymore without seeing a commercial for it.  I'm sure the airports and airlines deal with passengers flying with it and other injectable meds constantly.

Posted 2/4/2009 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Medication are not subject to the liquid limitation so I am assuming that flying w/ them in a cooler (even if it included cold packs) would be ok, with a doctors order. I haven't done it but like others said the airport/airline should help. Also you can check out the TSA website that has answers to frequenly asked questions. What about Humira's website? This is a problem they probably frequently encounter.
Posted 2/4/2009 11:16 PM (GMT 0)

I have flown with it several times....once on a FL to CA trip.

You need to have a copy of your prescription (the one that comes with your drugs from the pharmacy works)  It needs to show your name and the drug info.

I usually pack it in a soft collaspable cooler with some blue ice bags.  The airline rules do not apply to meds or the ice packs needed to carry them safely.  Then once I have taken the injection I dump the blue ice and compress the cooler for packing.  The first time I did this I got the low down from my airport security folks (Tampa International) and it worked just like they said....actually the security folks never even opened the cooler or looked at my script...they just looked at the x-ray...asked me if iy was medicine...I said yes and that was that.

Good luck

Posted 2/5/2009 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
Check out this site: http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/getting-there-back-your-journey/180166-has-anyone-flown-humira-epi-pen-other-injectable-meds-recently.html

Someone said Humira even sent them a little travel bag to carry the meds in.
Posted 2/5/2009 10:34 AM (GMT 0)
should be no problem if you follow the rules.. i have flown as recently as last year with my TPN , syringes, ice packs etc.. in a small soft sided cooler as carry-on. as long as you have the prescription info its cool.. you may get a newbie TSA person that raises a stink , have them get a supervisor. if they still refuse, get a lawyer and get rich...thats my plan.
Posted 2/5/2009 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
try the myhumira website, I got a kit that had a Humira cold pack in it. along with a note for the airlines. I have not used it yet but I will if I have to. it is a nice pack and can hold one or two doses. It might be the Humira starter kit. Karen
Posted 2/6/2009 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
yeah i was going to say ask the humira company about a cold pack kit .... i got one from them it is very nice and would work well on a plan trip
Posted 6/24/2015 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
how long did it take for the humira company to deliver the cold pack kit? i had just started humira today and will be going on a trip on monday and need to take 2 injections with me. i had requested a cold pack kit but afraid that it will not be here in time.
Posted 6/24/2015 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I fly regularly within Europe with needles (humira and blood thinners) so often I have up to 30 odd in hand luggage. Both contents are fine through X-ray machines (already checked that), I take out of my hand luggage at security and put boxes of drugs in their own tray ... the staff have never batted an eyelid. I have never had a docs letter (never needed) but if nervous worth having. Personally I would not put Humira in the hold given poss significant temp drop. I've travelled without any freezer packing and it has always been fine. Hope that helps... People travel with needles all the time.
Posted 6/25/2015 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
A Humira pen can be left out of the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. A pharm rep told me this a few months ago. If you don't believe me, call the company and ask. This is a fact!
Posted 6/25/2015 6:03 AM (GMT 0)
I was told the same as the above by my hospital. Ideally should be kept in fridge but no longer a necessity.
Posted 6/25/2015 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
The only time I've ever run into problems with Humira when traveling was when my sweet husband packed it- and took the pen *out* of the box with the prescription label, and just packed the pen in a cooler by itself. After I insisted multiple times that the liquid was medically necessary (and cried!) the airport security guy handed it over. I had a very, very stern discussion with my husband about the fact that medications need to have their prescription labels on them and/or a note from a physician if you expect them to get through security.
Otherwise, it's been fine- for flying, I've just used an insulated lunch box with an icepack. When driving, I've used the styrofoam containers the Humira ships in, and filled them with icepacks. Most recently, we took a three-day car trip with my Humira pen - put it in the fridge at the hotel at night, and packed it back into the cooler the next day. Any time we needed to ask hotel staff to freeze icepacks they were very accommodating.
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