travelling with enbrel injections

[classique]

[flippertyjibbit]

I am doing this next week, "Healthcare at Home" have given me a standard issue letter for the airline explaining that it must not go in the hold and not go through an xray machine.

They've told me it can travel in a small kids coolbag/lunchpack bag and when we reach villa, NOT to put it back in the fridge but just keep in cool bag in air conditioned room as apparentley it's fine for up to 4 weeks at 'ambient' temperture.....we'll see!

[Hidden in reply to flippertyjibbit]

Did you just speak to the operator or did the pharmacist call you back as you appear to have been given different information than me. I was told to carry as you but once on board the ship to place in the fridge and was sent a proper thermometer to take making sure the temperatures were ok. This was from the pharmacist at HcH, they rang me back.

[classique]

Thank you for that, i have my sons wedding to go to and whist there have 3 different hotels then a trip to paris, so i am thinking i,ll get a cool box, and ask all the hotels to put them in thier fridge for me, i will only be needing 2 injections, i cant take the risk of leaving them out as all the different travelling to and from and different temperature might harm the drug. When i go abroad i,ll do as you say as then we are in control of our enviroment , Have a nice day x

[Hidden in reply to classique]

If you have a fridge in the room that will be ok to use, I take Enbrel on Cruises and place them in the fridge in the room. I was told to do this by Healthcare at home pharmacist.

[flippertyjibbit]

Have a fab time! X

[classique]

Thank you , just saw that ebay sell an isulin cool bag with a ice block so you can freeze it before you go (the ice block not the Enbrel ! ) And healthcare at home are sending me a custom letter so all good news.. Just the wedding to see to now x

[Hidden in reply to classique]

Make sure you cover the ice block with a tea towel you must not let the injection come into contact with the ice block.

[tilstongal]

When I was on Enbrel I bought a little fridge that was powered by the car battery from the cigarette lighter socket as we were travelling all the time - it was called Medicooler. It wasn't cheap but worth it to us.

[classique]

Hi yes thanks i have looked at those but feel it will be ok to just get the insulin bag as the longest i will be in the car will be 5 hours and London to Paris is only 4 hours from home to Grad de Nord then taxi again so think i,ll be ok , my reletives have a Medicooler as they go to France in their car lots so need it , but i must say its my first time here and you hgave all been very very helpful thank you so much x I will cover the ice block with a teatowel .

[Paula-C in reply to classique]

I don't think that insulin carries will keep the drug cool enough. They use to tell you that it could be kept out of the fridge for a period of time (I think with Enbrel it was 4 days) and then it was OK to put it back into the fridge.....people have obviously done this and survived. They now tell you it is OK to be out of the fridge for 4 weeks as long as it is kept below 25 degrees (it says this on the drug information sheet), you must use it within the 4 weeks and must not put it back into the fridge.

We managed to keep my Enbrel cool when we went to Spain at Christmas. We go a small lunch cool bag, some really small ice packs from Asda, they came in a foil covering. We put spare ice packs in a soup thermos flask. Heathcare at home provided us with a thermometer, it is really good, probe goes inside the bag with the display reading outside the bag, this way you don't have to keep opening and shutting the bag keeping check on the temperature. We just kept a check on the temperature and added ice packs when required. (I also used it to keep an eye on the fridge in the apartment).

I did check with security at the airport about taking ice packs through to air side and was told it was OK. I also emailed the airline telling them I was taking temperature sensitive injections on the plane and requested the cool bag as an extra carry on bag. I printed off their reply, but a note had been put on my booking anyway. I also had a letter from my consultant as well as Healthcare at Home.

Paula

[classique]

Thanks Paula and thanks everyone things are a lot clearer now , the pharmacist from HCH is ringing me back and a letter is being sent .

[Chrissycl]

Hi

I purchased a mini porter from health care at home, its an insulated box in a carrier. Comes with a cool block that when frozen lasts over 12 hours. Traveled to dominican republic last year with it no problems but it in overhead locker and forgot about it till we landed.