Community Forum

As those of you who are taking Humira know, the medication must be kept refrigerated between 36-46 degrees.  Carrying the medication by car in a cooler can be done relatively easily.  Traveling by plane, however, is another story.  Has anyone carried their Humira with them on board an airliner?  I would appreciate your experiences.  There are times when I need to travel by air and need to take my medication with me.  Thanks for any suggestions. - Bob

 Reply posted for RJB10345.

After seeing the suggestion to look at Polar Bear coolers, I bought one of their small medical coolers for my son to use for his Humira on a recent trip youth-hosteling in Italy.  The thermometer and the freeze-indicator gave us confidence that we would know if any problems occurred.  His Humira pens (two) just fit in the interior container provided, and they stayed at the right temperature for the approximately 16 hours that elapsed between leaving our house and arriving at his first hostel.  I can definitely recommend this product.

 Reply posted for keenca.

I am about to fly cross country and need to bring my Humira with me.  I had planned on bringing just a lunch cooler with an ice pack in it and a note from my doc...so that worked for you?  Good to hear.  Also, I've looked on the Humira site, but haven't found any information about traveling.  Can you point me in the right direction?  Thanks.

 Reply posted for keenca.

keenca - I finally bought one of the small medical coolers from Polar Bear Coolers.  It appears to work quite well, though I have only tested it in my home.  It seemed to keep things under 46 degrees for a full 12 hours.  The ice packs are unlike I have ever seen and a little awkward to use, but they seemed to do the trick.  I think it was worth the $45 just to give it a try.  It is by far one of the best insulated bags I have ever come across.  If it doesn't work for my Humira pen, I'll use it to keep a sandwich and of a few beers cool when I go for a quick picnic in the middle of the summer! - Bob

Maintaining Humira temperature while traveling by planekeenca - Check out this website.  It is the first medical cooler that seems to deal with the larger injection pens and specifically mentions the temperature controls of 36-46 degrees.  It is also designed for use with Embrel pens, which is a similar medication pen to Humira used by Crohns patients.  I have a note into their customer service folks asking about Humira, but I think I may spend the $45 for the small cooler just to see how well it works.  I read the instructions for how to prepare the bag for travel, and it looked pretty simple.  It even has a thermometer as part of the system, as well as one that shows if the temp inside accidentally gets below freezing.    Let me know what you think of this after you give it a read.  This unit may be the specific solution we are looking to find. - Bob

 Reply posted for RJB10345.

Thanks so much for the info. I will check out the website  as well as other options before he heads out for any long international flights this summer. I am sure that there are other Humira patients that take long flights!

Maintaining Humira temperature while traveling by planeI purchased a Micro-Cooler from them.  The claim that it keeps things cold for up to 20 hours is for insulin, which can be kept up to a temp of around 86 degrees, I think.  I asked them to send me a chart  as to how long the bag might keep my Humira pen cool before exceeding the 46 degree limit.  I cant seem to locate the info now, but I seem to remember that at 72 degrees, it would keep the Humira pen under the 46 degree limit for up to at least 12-14 hours.  I have tested it by putting a thermometer in the bag along with the gel tube, and it seems to be an accurate assessment on their part.  I am going to run another test tonight to double check.  To date, though, Ihave been a little too nervous to use the pack; chosing, instead, to try and travel around the dates in the month that I have to take my shot. Ill let you know through this site what my latest experiment shows.  It may just be enough for your overseas travel. - Bob

 Reply posted for RJB10345.

Hi Bob,

 Reply posted for keenca.

keenca - Thanks for the reply.  From the number of folks who read the question, but didn't provide an answer, I suspect you have provided us all with a solution.  I did purchase a small carrying case from a diabetic supply that does a pretty good job of keeping the pen cool for a fair number of hours.  (My concern has been the time that elapses from the time one leaves the house to go to the airport 2 hours ealry, then has a layover of a couple of hours since most flights from our area are not non-stop anymore, etc)  Your suggestion of getting a doctor's note is an excellent one of which I hadn't considered.  I have wondered, but never asked, whether or not the flight attendant might just put the pen in their refrigerator during the flight.  I will check the Humira website again.  In the past, I have found Abbott labs not to be too helpful.  As an example, the cooler bag then provided me was good for only 90 minutes!  Now when would I not bother to just take my med instead of postponing my injection so that I could carry it somewhere for 90 minutes and then inject it?!  Again, thanks for the response! - Bob

 Reply posted for RJB10345.

My son, who has Crohn's, recently brought his Humira on a domestic flight without a hitch. We bought one of those soft sided insulated lunch bags, and placed a freezer gel pack inside with the Humira pen.