Travel tips - Pegylated Interferon

[LinaZW]

Hi all. I wonder if anyone has tried Frio cooking travel wallets for travelling with interferon? We go away next week and it’ll be the first time we are away on an injection day so feeling really anxious about travelling with it and keeping it cool. My airline suggested I buy a Frio wallet which looks great but having read up on it it seems to keep drugs at a temperature of 18-26 degrees which seems hot for meds that need to be kept refrigerated. Our flight is 11 hours which doesn’t include travelling to the airport, waiting around and travelling to hotel. Does anyone have any recommendations? Much appreciated, Lina

[LinaZW]

Typo spotted! I mean Frio cooling wallets not cooking!!

[Rachelthepotter in reply to LinaZW]

Dear Lina

I had similar probs with EPO syringes that neded to be kept chilled when travelling.

I found this medical fridge on Amazon, thanks to a pharmacist

amazon.co.uk/Express-Panda-...

It is expensive at £99.99 but you can plug it in ( to a car cigarette lighter socket or a plug) so you should be able to keep the epo cool in the car and when staying in places where they don’t have a fridge.

I did buy one, and once I’d decoded the Chinese instructions it worked fine. It showed the tenperature on the outside, and it did stay cool even when not plugged in.

Now I’ve switched to a 4 weekly version of EPO that should be easier to manage. Just took the first shot tonight.

All the best

Rachel

[GolferCL]

Take a look here

medisave.co.uk/dia-s-cool-d...

You could ask the cabin crew to put the bag in their fridge/coolers on board?

[LinaZW in reply to GolferCL]

Thanks - they don’t store meds in their fridges because of concerns re contamination. They’ve offered to provide ice but there will be travel time to and from the airport.

[JackLina in reply to LinaZW]

Hi Lina. I read that storing them in the flight fridges would be too cold for them. I have used Frio wallet on my last trip to France and we drove, so it was 3 days in the wallet before I reached the French fridge where I stored it for the week.

although I was convinced it didn't feel cold enough it was. It seems to get colder as time goes on. very good. It worked and I will be using it again in October when we go back.

Just make sure you follow the instruction fully for preparation.

ATBand enjoy your trip. Penelope

[GolferCL]

It might be worth checking with your Pharmacist/Chemist to ask how long the medication can safely be stored at room temperature.

I know there are certain medications that the manufacturer recommends refrigeration (Ideally & long term)..but the medication can indeed be safely stored at room temp for varying periods of time...in some case 30 days. The interferon information says this is the case...

mpnvoice.org.uk/documents/t...

[Ebot]

There was a previous post on this not so long ago which I recall offered various solutions. (It may have referenced the cooling wallets you are talking about.) You might want to search the thread if you haven’t already done so. Hope you get some answers - I know there is plenty of experience of this on the Forum. Enjoy your trip!

[LinaZW in reply to Ebot]

I’ll have a search - thanks!

[JackLina in reply to LinaZW]

I used the mini wallet. I don't know what the other person means when they say it isn't colourfast because mine is. No problems at all and if you stand it up and let it dry out before yo put your meds in it it's fine.

[francesb]

Hi, I would do the injection a day early if you are travelling near injection day, so I didn't have to travel with the injection, I've done this in the past with no problems and my consultant said it would make no difference. Otherwise ask the pharmacists, the leaflet I get with my Pegasys jabs says it's ok non refrigerated for a number of hours, can't remember exactly how many. Best wishes Frances.

[LinaZW in reply to francesb]

My injection day is in the middle of the trip so I’d end up having a double dose before going! I may be popping into hospital before we go so if I do I’ll double check with pharmacist. I’ve ordered the Frio wallet just in case as I didn’t want to be out of time since we leave next week.

[revfee]

I use Frio wallets for my insulin when travelling and they are certainly less than 18 degrees - which wouldn't be cooling at all! They work well... the only thing I would advise you is that when dryig off the wet pouch remember the colour isn't fast, as I discovered after drying my magenta pouch on a hotel's white towels - oops!

[LinaZW in reply to revfee]

Top tip!!

[PT99]

Hi

I started the post on this a couple of months and bought the Frio following recommendations on here and it was just the job - kept the Interferon nice and cool for hours. I can certainly recommend one.

Pete

[LinaZW in reply to PT99]

Perfect! Will see how I get on with it.

[JSKly]

I’ve used the Frio pouch and it works well. For me it was important to watch the video on the internet for the pouch several times. And make sure air surrounds the pouch because that is what causes the cooling effect. I too understand that the peg can last easily out of the frig for several hours. I don’t think you need to worry.

Another thing I’ve done when I’ve had time is add a day to my injection day each week until I’ve got the day in a better position for travelling and injecting.

[LinaZW in reply to JSKly]

Thanks - I guess it can make sense to try to move the day around but assume that would only work where you’re away for just a week?

[Cecilie]

Hi, I tried the Frio pouch and was really disappointed with it. It didn't get cool enough at all. I may have been using it wrong, though, I know other people have used them successfully.

Kind regards, Cecilie

[LinaZW in reply to Cecilie]

That is disappointing. Did you find an alternative?

[Cecilie in reply to LinaZW]

I had another mini cool bag that I got from amazon, it keeps it cool for a few hours but our flight was delayed and I had to ask the flight attendant to put the interferon in the fridge. When we got to the hotel, the fridge in the room wasn't cold enough. So the whole thing was quite stressful and for my next trip I swapped the injection days around to avoid taking it with me. Sorry, don't mean to be negative. I know there are some good cool bags available, the ones that show the temperature on the outside. They are a bit more expensive but probably worth it.

[Malaika]

I have used the Frio bags for both Insulin and Interferon and didn't have any problems even in very hot countries.

Best wishes Malaika

[ihavegotet]

I have traveled with mine in my purse in a ziploc with dry ice ywice. I just leave it in the bin pit pf my purse and pack the needle seperate in my suitcase. Also the pharmacist told me that peg can stay stable at room temp for 12 hours.