Cool bag for travelling with Humira

[Endless]

I wonder if anyone can help me. My mother is seriously ill and I have to travel to see her, she lives in the Canary Islands. I am concerned about taking Humira and would prefer to travel with it in a cool bag and I wondered if anyone had any recommendations for the best one to purchase. Any advice very welcome, thank you.

[Hezekiah]

You may find something useful in these threads

healthunlocked.com/nras/pos...

healthunlocked.com/nras/pos...

healthunlocked.com/nras/pos...

but I'm sure other folk will also reply with recommendations for you. Cheers

[MadBunny]

Can you get a special travel box from your supplier? Some companies do them xx

[Neonkittie17 in reply to MadBunny]

I have a small one the size of a little rectangular sandwich box approx 7x5ins that takes two Humira sized click pens. If o can find it this aft I’ll show you. It snaps shut when you’ve done them for return, which is from HaH. I’d phone your meds provider and ask and I bet they’ll send you something to put them in for your travel. x

[Hezekiah]

My son has an iCool Medicube, purchased 5 years ago, for transporting Enbrel weekly injection pens. shop.diabetes.org.uk/produc... It's not cheap, and is quite bulky, but pretty efficient. It has 2 refrigerant packs, which you freeze before travel, and they combined with the insulation of the bag, keep your medicine cold. HTH

iCool Medicube exterior packaging

[Hezekiah]

Another pic. Blue plastic item inside bag is a divider, which separates the medicine from the refrigerant packs, which are placed on either side of it.

iCool Medicube interior, plus refrigerant packs

[Hezekiah]

3rd and last pic Also bear in mind that 1. You will need a letter from your doctor/consultant (whoever issues your medication) to say you are carrying medication. 2. The cube must be carried in your hand luggage. 3. Gelpacs must be frozen. 4. Keep the letter to hand to show customs. (We declared the letter to the officer and asked if they wanted to see it).

iCool Medicube bag exterior

[Lupusrelative in reply to Hezekiah]

Glad you mentioned this. My sister had to travel like this. Airlines were very accommodating.

[Silverpixie]

I have a medigenix isothermic bag which kept my injections cool from home to Hong Kong. Didn't last until Japan though! Why oh why won't airlines help? Well worth the money. Has a temperature gauge on the outside for reassurance . Sounds similar to the one used by Hezekiah. Quite neat, use it a lot for tocilizumab

[Scottishlad]

Get a travel letter from your medication supplier. I have never needed to show mine so far but you never know when a border official might ask for it.

Please look at the FAQ for Humira (search Humira storage). The information should also be in the patient information sheet included with your medication. Humira can be stored for up to 14 days out of the refrigerator provided it is kept below 25 C. At the end of 14 days the Humira must be used or disposed of.

I use a Frio wallet, such as used by diabetics for their insulin, to carry my Cimzia syringe. Cimzia has a 10 day limit.

I used a Medactiv iCool Prestige in the past before the storage advice changed for Cimzia. It is more compact than the Medicube and is easier to carry. Not sure if it is largely enough for Humira pens. I found a insulated lunch bag to carry the pack in. Probably best to wrap your medication in bubble wrap to ensure it doesn't freeze when you put in at first.

If comes to it, it is not a matter of life and death if you miss a dose. I have had to skip several doses of Cimzia when I was concerned about infections in the past.

I hope this helps.

[Fra22-57]

This is mine which I got free from my supplier Lloyds Homecare. best to have letter to show to officials at airport as the pouches in mine had to be scanned separately for suspected drugs or something.These pouches are frozen before travel and slipped into pouches .The plastic case holds the epipens.little netting pocket to keep medical swabs etc.good strong zip threat holds them secure.It is very useful and I use for all my trips. Hope your mother gets well soon

Medication container

[Otto11]

I’ve had 3 given by hospital from medical suppliers. Two of them are much thicker than a normal cool bag & ive used them for about 15 years as travel abroad regularly. I also have a separate compartment for ice packs which must not touch the boxes if injections. You must keep the injections in their original box & mine are usually taken out & scanned separately at security ( I always get stressed at this point) wanting them to hurry up so I can get them back in the bag ASAP. I always have a letter from my home delivery company ( currently Lloyds) but they rarely look at it. Also I find the travelling sharps bins a waste of time as most pens don’t fit them so pop used injections in an empty plastic water bottle to dispose of there at a hospital or here.

[Endless]

Thank you all so much for your replies. Each one is truly helpful. My medication is delivered by Healthcare at Home. I will contact them and ask if they can supply me with a letter for customs etc. I will look at each recommendation re, the cool bags - thank you. Although, I have heard this morning that Tenerife is going into level 4 on Monday, so it looks like I will not be able to get out there anytime soon but at least I will get everything ready for when I can. Thank you all!

[Joanneforbes]

I’ve got a medpac one orange insulation it’s great brought online x hope all goes well

[STILL-I-RISE26]

Hello, Check with your pharmacy. I was told that Etanercept/Brenzys which is the same as Humira can be at room temp. but if so has to be used within 30 days.