Holiday

[Kirataylor]

Can i take my benepali on holiday with me and how do ikeep it cool

[helixhelix]

Where are you going and how long for? As generally there’s no problem. If you are leaving the UK, you need to take a prescription and/or a letter from the person who provides the Benepali. You can have it out of the fridge for 4 weeks (and you mustn’t put it back in), but just need to keep it below 25 degrees so a normal cool bag will be fine if you are going somewhere hot.

[Matilda_1922]

I didn’t realise I needed to get a letter but now on holiday in Dubai due to fly back on Wednesday. I had no problems going out.

[Pamelah5]

Yes you can, take a letter with you or even the attached form which comes with your medication. I take methotrexate along with all medications when going abroad without any hassle . I put all meds in the clear bag I do not hide anything.

Best wishes

pamela x

[Caribatty]

Hi, Kirataylor, you can ask the company who provides the benepali for the letter by phone, in my case they were Heathcare at home. They may be able to do it urgently or email it to you. It is very important that the benepali doesn’t go through the x-ray machines at the airport as they don’t know it it affects them and that’s why you need the letter that explains it. I bought a cooler bag which ice bags that you freeze beforehand as I am away for more than 6 weeks. You have to show the bag and the injections to customs.

Hope this helps.

María José

[Paula-C in reply to Caribatty]

I've been told it can go through the X-ray, mine always does I've never had a problem. They use to say mtx injections couldn't, but they now say they can.

[Caribatty in reply to Paula-C]

Hi, the letter I received from Healthcare at home says:

It is advised that this medication does not pass through an x-ray machine as the effects on this type of medication are not known. It is important that the medication is kept between +2C and +8C. Pleas note that the patient may also be carrying a cool bag containing cool blocks or gel packs to ensure correct temperature during transportation.

This is for the personal use of the named patient above and must be retained in their possession at all times.

That was signed by the Lead Pharmacist from Healthcare at Home in June 2018.

Make sure, just in case, that you check with the provider as you don’t want to not be able to inject it and not work while you are away.

Regards.

[helixhelix in reply to Caribatty]

I got the same letter, which drove me nuts as at that point I was travelling a lot and having to factor in an extra 10 minutes for extra security check was a big nuisance. Anyway I phoned up the drug manufacturer and asked them. They said it could go through the scanners just fine, and HAH were just covering their backsides.

[Caribatty in reply to helixhelix]

Great to know for sure, Helixhelix. Thank you very much. xx

[Paula-C in reply to Caribatty]

I'm on enbrel (Benepali is the biosimilar), I've just checked my letter, it's dated October 2017. The wording is exactly the same as yours without the X-ray bit. I'm in remission thanks to enbrel and I've been taking it abroad since 2012 and everytime it's been xrayed.