Lucky I called pegasys support

[Rangle]

before I left on vacation last week,...they said not to put the interferon through the Xray at the airport,they said it could compromise the meds?

I was going to put it in my checked bag,they said it didn't matter.I decided not to take the shot with me, instead I took it before I left,... I was only gone for a week

I was suppose to get a procrit delivery the day before I left...it never came & I left anyway,.my hgh was 10.1,... it dropped to 9.6  this week & I just took my first shot of Aranesp

I was wondering if people were aware of the Xray info?... Just in case I wanted to pass it on

All the best Rangle

[sfbaygirl]

I did also keep mine chilled all the time. Have to worry about freezing the meds too!  That 6 days sounds pretty weird.

[IAmTheWalrus]

I wonder the same. I sent mine through without thinking a couple of times.

I believe the article specified the pre-filled syringes on the Pegasys time at room temp. I was surprised also. While the report says 6 days, I would not think it is recommended to leave it that long. I'm keeping mine chilled all the time.

[sfbaygirl]

What I am wondering about is that xray machine. I sent my peg through it many times and wonder what effect it had on it.  

The carrier sounds good. I had one of those lunch box type coolers and the long lasting ice packs. I wonder if that 6 days w/o refrigeration is for the peg that you have to mix.  

[IAmTheWalrus]

Here is an interesting article that seems to say that the Pegasys can go quite a while (6 days) without being refrigerated. I was thinking it was more like hours. They site the source of the information as the manufacturer.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/562416_Tables

I found the web site for the coller pack for traveling. It is designed for insulin, but I have been using it and it seems to work (I am using the "Insulin Protector" case). Here's the link.

http://www.medicool.com/diabetes/diabetes_travel.php

[IAmTheWalrus]

Come to think of it, I don't know if I can put an image in a Forum message to you or not. I'll try. If it works, I'll snap a photo when I get home and send it. If not, I'll put it on a blog or you can send me your e-mail.

Brent

[jdwithhcv]

Thanks.  I'd like to see a photo if you can post one.

jd

[IAmTheWalrus]

I have travelled with my peg on five occasions. I informed the security screener that I had a package to handcheck. He asked if it could go through the x-ray and I said no (I knew it was supposed to stay out of sunlight, so figured x-ray might not be good).  It was no problem: he took it out and looked at it and geve it back. On a subsequent trip, the screener consulted with several prople and subjected the container to the chemical sniffer test. Never had a problem. In Mexico, I don't know..

I would not recommend putting it in your checked bag as the documentation says not to shake the medicine. I am sure you have seen how King Kong gently handles the bags getting on and off the plane ... need I say more?

If you go to a diabetic supply place they sell small cooler blocks with cordura covers that have a space in the plastic freeze block for a couple of vials of insulin. Padded with a little tissue paper, this space securely holds a Pegasys syringe. I think you could fit two, though I have only taken one at a time, Stays very cool for all day flights. I think it keeps two fials of insulin cool enough for 24 hours outdoors in the summer. Peg has to be a little cooler, but fo plane trips, it's more than enough. Very handy and is about the size of a can of tennis balls. If you're interested I could post a picture of it on my profile page?

[Rangle]

Jim,
I called the pegasys support line because I was concerned about the small ice pack melting since my total travel time with the layover was over 12 hours.  They told me not to worry about the peg warming to room temperature...I didn't ask them if it could be re-refrigerated so I don't know.

When I asked about going through security they told me not to X-ray the Peg.

Andiamo/All,
I have a friend who traveled with the Peg which was X-rayed & didn't seem to have a problem, (he's SVR after 2 yrs). If I find out any other info I'll pass it along.

Rangle
  

[sfbaygirl]

I was out of the country several times with Peg. I always had my little ice chest with those ice packs they send the peg in. They kept it cold for trips to Europe etc, many hours. I never heard of xrays being bad for the peg. Where did you get this info and what does the xray do?  

[hepcD]

I flew four times while on tx and had my meds ran threw x-ray without incident. I told security what i had in the bag and they went along with there business. It is important to keep your meds cold. Having them x-rayed did nothing to them.

[Andiamo1]

I just made a trip to NY with my meds.  You don't need a note to get through, but you should inform the screeners about the drugs.  They payed much more attention to the ice packs than the drugs.  They used some sort of sniffer to check them out.

I have flown back and forth between NY and Florida three times this winter and not had any problem as long as I gave them a heads up about the drugs and especially the sharps.

I have asked many times about temperature and screening and was never told that xrays could be bad for the drugs.  They don't bother us or film or anything else, but stranger things could happen, so I defer to the drug companies.

Eric

[jmjm530]

Not disputing what you were told but I've never heard or read about this, and if currently treating would probably check additional sources if planning on flying. Of course, if any doubt exists, the prudent thing would be to have a note saying the meds are not to be x-rayed. As to the "12 hours at room temp", my understanding is that this is an outside and *accumulative* number. In other words, you can't take the Peg out of the fridge for 12 hours put it back in, and then take it out for another 12 hours. It's a one-time deal.

That said, I got some warm Peg from my mail-order pharm and returned it after visual inspection. Either I saw some milky flakes -- or maybe it was those cotton-wool spots :) -- but the pharmacist said they would take them back. Point is that visual inspection of the Peg is important before injection and should be covered in the package insert. Certainly if in doubt, speak to the pharmacist of drug company help line.

-- Jim

[Rangle]

Your welcome,

I was also told the interferon would be ok for at least 12 hours at room temperature.

I would check with the airline to give them a heads up on the meds& sharps you'll be carrying on the plane,Bring a letter from your docto,r or the prescription with your name on it,Have the TSA hand check the pouch with the meds in it.....Have a good vacation

all the best Rangle.

[jdwithhcv]

Never heard the xray thing but thanks for the heads-up.  I'm travelling to Mexico early in February and will have to take 3 weeks of meds along.  Do you suppose they will hand-search the cooler bag rather than xray it?  The TSA website says its ok to bring the meds aboard but who knows what the screeners at security will decide?

Thanks again, now I can advance-plan about the xrays.

jd

[Lady Lauri]

Okay, that's kind of scary! ??

And I just had some xrays :{, with peg in me?? :}

LL