How to Travel With GLP-1 Weight Loss Injections

Going on holiday and spending time with friends and family—whether it’s a summer break or a Christmas getaway—is a highlight in our calendars. But before you can enjoy it, you first have to get there.

If you’re travelling while using GLP-1 weight loss injections like Mounjaro or Wegovy, there are a few logistical challenges to keep in mind beyond simply packing your bags. Potential travel sickness, storing your pens correctly, and travel restrictions and requirements can all play their part.

The last thing you want is medication getting damaged, lost or delayed during your trip. To help you plan for a smoother journey, and reduce some of the worry, this article answers some common questions on how to travel with GLP-1s.

Store Your GLP-1s Correctly

Your GLP-1 weight loss pen needs to be in the fridge before you start using it, which increases shelf life. But you don’t need to keep it in there once you’ve injected the first dose.

If you’re using a Mounjaro KwikPen, keep it refrigerated between 2°C and 8°C Celsius before the first dose. After using the first dose from a pen, you can keep Mounjaro unrefrigerated for up to 30 days at a temperature of under 30°C.

For Wegovy, store the pen in the refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C before opening it. During use, you can keep the pen at a temperature below 30°C or in the fridge for up to six weeks. After that, you’ll need to discard it.

You should store your Saxenda pens in the fridge as soon as you get them. Once you start using a pen, you can keep it for one month stored below 30°C. 

You can get portable coolers or insulated bags to keep your medication at a lower temperature while you travel. Be careful when buying one, though, as they need to be suitable for GLP-1 medication. 

Keep the cap on and store it in the original packaging to protect the pens from light.

If the liquid in your pen is frozen, cloudy or no longer clear, it is not safe to use.

Pack Needles and a Sharps Bin

Remember to take your needles with you, as well as alcohol wipes if you use them. 

And don’t forget to take a sharps bin with you for your used needles.

GLP-1s and Travel Sickness

Long journeys in planes, trains and cars are taxing at the best of times. Travel sickness can make them even more unpleasant.

If you’re using GLP-1 weight loss injections, you might feel like fatigue, dehydration or nausea is making your travel sickness worse. This may be due to the side effects of GLP-1s, which you might get after you inject it and/or after you increase your dose.

Here are a few things you can do alleviate any travel sickness and nausea:

• Stay Hydrated: Aim for six to eight cups or glasses of water—or at least two litres—per day.

• Time Your Doses: Inject your dose when you’ve reached your destination or you’ve settled down for the night. This will help you avoid feeling side effects at the same time as travel sickness.

• Eat Enough Food: Hunger can make nausea worse, so eat light meals throughout the day to help settle your stomach. Pay attention to when symptoms peak and plan meals around those times.

• Stick to Plain Food: Eat simple, easy-to-digest foods like crackers, toast, or bananas. Avoid creamy, spicy or sweet foods because they might make nausea worse.

• Add Ginger to Your Diet: Ginger is known for its anti-nausea properties. So, if it’s possible, add some ginger to your diet. You can buy ginger capsules, which are easy to transport. Non-alcoholic ginger ale can also help with hydration.

• Try Sea Sickness Bands: Travel sickness bands have been found to reduce feelings of nausea.

• Take Medicated Treatment: Over-the-counter medication like Kwells and Stugeron tablets can help with travel sickness. You can also get prescription travel sickness treatment from your doctor. Let your GP know you’re on GLP-1s as some drugs can increase risk of side effects like constipation.

It’s quite common for patients using weight loss injections to feel more anxious than normal when they anticipate side effects. Download our Renu app for guidance and tips on how to manage anxiety and overcome psychological challenges on your weight loss journey.

And if you’re looking for tips to help stay on track over the Christmas holidays, this article explains how this festive season will be different – and what you can do to prepare.

Travelling Abroad with GLP-1s

You can take GLP-1 weight loss injections abroad with you. But if you’re going to another country, there are a few more things you’ll need to consider.

Check Travel Restrictions

You should always check the rules and travel restrictions of the country you’re planning to visit. GLP-1 weight loss treatments like Mounjaro, Saxenda and Wegovy are authorised in EU countries and the US, so you are allowed to take them into those places. However, you might need to declare them.

We’d also recommend speaking with the airline you’re travelling with in advance in case they have any specific requirements. This will make sure you’re not missing anything they need and avoid additional stress when you get to the airport.

Bring Documentation

Most airlines require a copy of your prescription when travelling with medication. To take any medication in liquid form over 100ml in and out of the country, the UK government says you’ll need to show evidence it’s prescribed to you.

So make sure you bring a letter from your doctor or a copy of your prescription. The letter should include information about your medical condition, the prescribed medication, and the required dosage. Keep this letter with your travel documents so you can access it quickly and easily.

If you’ve ordered from us, we can give you your prescription before you travel. Get in touch and have your SOP reference number to hand. Call us on 0141 774 5023.

Keep Pens in Hand Luggage

If you’ve ever lost your luggage while travelling, you’ll know how stressful it is—and how long it can take to show up. So we’d recommend keeping your GLP-1 pens in a carry-on bag so you know where it is at all times.

Taking it in your carry-on luggage will also keep your medication at a more stable temperature as the hold can be colder than the plane cabin.

Key Takeaways

• Store GLP-1s Properly: GLP-1 pens should be refrigerated before the first dose. You can keep Mounjaro at room temperature for up to 30 days after use, and six weeks for Wegovy. A portable cooler, made specifically for GLP-1s, can help keep the temperature low. Remember to take your needles and sharps bin.

• Manage Travel Sickness: If you’re prone to travel sickness, stay hydrated, time your dose for the evening after travel, eat light meals, stick to plain foods, and add some ginger to your diet. Medicated treatments are also available.

• Check Travel Restrictions: Always review the travel regulations of your destination, as countries may have specific rules about carrying GLP-1 medications.

• Keep Pens in Hand Luggage: Carry your GLP-1 pens in your hand luggage to maintain a stable temperature and reduce the risk of losing them in checked baggage.

• Bring The Right Documents: For international travel, you’ll need to have a prescription or letter from your healthcare provider for medications in liquid form over 100ml. You can contact us for a prescription before you travel.

References

European Medicines Agency (2020). Medicines. [online] European Medicines Agency. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines.

‌FDA (n.d.). Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs. [online] www.accessdata.fda.gov. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm.

‌GOV.UK. (n.d.). Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/essential-medicines-and-medical-equipment.

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