Traveling, How to keep meds cold?

[turtle 2]

This is my first posting.  I've learned a lot from this forum and would like to thank those who have contributed.  I am geno 1 and viral load 5,000,000.  Week 7 of 48.  I travel to remote countries for a month at a time.  I was wondering how other travelers keep their meds cold.  This trip, my first with meds, I used a soft sided cooler and many small bags of Super Ice.  I was able to get the meds in a refridgerator after only 12 hours of traveling.  The super Ice was still about 80% frozen so it might have lasted as much as 2 days.  Anyone else have a better idea?  BTW.  I saw a post from welderman asking about vacinations for traveling.  I'm not sure if he was asking which ones he needs or which ones would be OK to take on tx.  I have just about every vacination needed for any country and got all my boosters just before starting tx.  My doctor said it was OK. Thanks

[cuteus]

if you call the RN at the Pegasys line, she will tell you 24 hrs, sometimes a tad more, does not affect the medications effectiveness. I don't know about extreme heat, though, I think she said 80-85 was ok.

[NYgirl]

Yes be very careful you don't FREEZE the Interferon...that would be really bad.

It's important to keep it at the right temperature so that it doesn't.  

Have you tried calling to a big pharmacy and asking if you could find anything made specifically for this?  A medical supply company perhaps could help?

What did your doctor say - they should have some good advice on this one I can't imagine you are the first one to travel...maybe they even have something?

[GrandOak]

One might also want to watch that the meds do not get too cold and to not allow it to be kept unrefrigerated for more than 24 hours, but I would venture a guess that it may also depend upon what type of conditions exist when it is unrefrigerated.  For instance, unrefrigerated on the counter of my A/C home would be different than in sitting in my car or in the 90-100 degree F temperatures we currently have outside.

Pegasys PI warns that it should be kept between 2C to 8C (36 F to 46 F) and warns against freezing and protecting from overexposure of serum to light.  It does serum decay can occur if these conditions are not met.

[way]

I don't know for sure, but probably not long. When I had my teaching they said to roll the pre-filled syringe in your hands to warm it up before injecting, and they also said (and was in the video) not to shake?? Well rolling is simailar to shaking,hello...

Some people here have posted that they get their shot out of the fridge and let it come to room temp. before injecting. I did that a couple of times and then thought better of it. (just in case it is very unstable stuff) If it was ok to let it come to room temp before injecting-- I was thinking that they would've said that at the teaching. All I know is I want to eliminate all the variables that could effect the outcome of my SVR.

[timedog]

does anyone know how long the med's can go unrefregerated before they go bad?

[timedog]

does anyone know how long the med's can go unrefregerated before they go bad?

[hicast]

use a wide mouth thermos bottle. With ice changes it will keep indefinately

[turtle 2]

I got the same little travel pouch with my goodie bag.  I don't think it would stay cold enough for more than a few hours.  I think I will put all the frozen Super Ice packs I have in the travel bag I bought and just see how long it takes for them to thaw out.  Knowing how long I have to find another source of ice, or refidgerator, will take a lot of stress out of the journey.  Here's a little tip for the rest of you.  If you check into a hotel without a refridgerator in the room and you give your meds to the desk clerk to put in the hotel fridge, go with them to be sure they put it in the refridgerator and not in the freezer.  My hotel put it in the freezer.  Something got lost in the translation.  It was in the freezer 6 hours before I could get back and check on it.  Luckily the same insulation that kept it cold kept it from freezing.

[way]

The goodie bag I was given went I went to my pegasys teaching has a little "travel pack" with a freezable ice pack that fits right into it. It's tiny --just about 4"x4"x6" and would fit into purse or carry-on. Maybe they have something like that for sale at the pharmacy?

[turtle 2]

Yes, your answer does help.  You answered a question I was thinking of but forgot to ask.  That being if it is OK to take the meds on board with you, or in checked luggage.  I put mine in the checked luggage because I thought there might be problems getting through security.  I knew it was risky but I wasn't sure I had a choise.  Also I was afraid to use dry ice because I thought it might freeze the meds.  Thanks for your help.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Hi and welcome to the forum.  I traveled every month on tx and used the same carry on as you did.  It was advised by my dr to do so and the only way I knew of how to keep the meds cold.

Beagle

[timedog]

One of few areas I can be a little helpful having just returned from a trip to china a few other stops along the way. not sure how you will be traveling or what airlines you will be on because as prepared as i thought I was there are always few little supprise along the way.

The first thing I did was by a mediacal traveling kit that was insulated and came with a freezer pack. I also carried a note from my doctor just incase I got questioned at secuirty, which  I never did by the by. I traveled with all my meds on me didn't want anything to get lost.

My expecation was that once onboard the  plane I could have them put the meds in  a fridge. Well suprise suprise american airlines doesnt do that. and we are talking a 16 hour flight. After much complaining and a little threating they gave me dry ice to slip in to my bag. This worked great and was able to get dry ice every other step on my jorney.

hope that helps