methotrexate injections - holiday to France.

[Pognose123]

Anyone got advice for going to France with a methotrexate injection? Allowed? (Eurostar btw).

do I you take a sharp bin? Are there tiny ones? and take to a pharmacy over there once used? Or would people expect me to delay dose til home again?

I will ask nurses but thought you guys may have good info and I can save nurses the hassle.

I want to look forward to a holiday but feeling a bit meh at planning this etc.

Thank you 🙏

[Scottishlad]

First thing you need is a travel letter either from your clinic or the company who delivers your methotrexate. A small sharps bin may be possible but it is unlikely anyone in France will dispose of it for you. I would use a small Tupperware type box suitably labelled to take it home and dispose of as usual. If your condition is well controlled you could miss a dose without too many problems, after all we often have to do this before certain dental and medical procedures.

[Pognose123 in reply to Scottishlad]

I’m opting for managing doses on run up that I can take a dose just as I leave home so don’t have to take a dose with me. Thinking ahead has given me the option - and I feel a lot better about it. Thanks 🙏

[vonniesims]

Yes, if I am well I miss it, or if not wanting to do that I have a small pot I put it in to bring home. If it is a syringe put the top back on. Have you got a pouch to keep it under 25° ? You can find them on line. I think one is a Frio travel wallet Enjoy your holiday

[helixhelix]

It is very hot here right now - over 30 degrees. So get a small cool bag or frio wallet!

Yes bring your doctor’s letter. And when I’m travelling I just pop the used needle back in the metoject box and bring it home. (With a frio wallet you need to have the box with you anyway)

[Braecoon]

You can get smaller NHS travel sharp boxes. I use these when travelling to USA.

[TytoAlba]

I spent 3 months travelling in France but went by car/Eurotunnel so taking my 12v plug-in portable coolbox was easy but necessary for taking 3 months worth of Enbrel injections, which I assume have the same storage requirement as Methorexate injections. You can get small sharps bins but I just saved all the used ones up, put the caps back on and put them into an old ice cream tub to bring back with me. The doctor's letter is a must in case you're challenged at customs, though I always tell them I'm carrying injectable medication before they go through the X ray and I've never been stopped from taking my syringes to any country I've been to. Frio pouches are brilliant and I always use them when travelling for shorter trips.

[Hidden]

Hi Pognose123,

Great advice from our wonderful community on here.

You can also check out this article written by an avid globetrotter with RA: nras.org.uk/resource/top-10...

And I hope you have a great time abroad

Best wishes,

Hannah - NRAS