Essential tips for travelling with Mounjaro safely

Checking regulations in your destination country

Every country has different laws and regulations about which medicines you can bring into the country, and how much you can bring with you.

Even if you're travelling within the UK, there'll be limitations on how much medication you can bring on a plane with you [2].

For example, if you're travelling to Australia or the United States you can only bring a 3-month supply of your medication [3][4].

In countries like Japan or Malaysia, the rules are much stricter and need to be read thoroughly [5][6].

Getting a doctor's note

If you're flying internationally, a lot of countries will require a doctor's note or letter from a healthcare provider proving the medication has been prescribed to you.

This is particularly important for weight loss medications that involve injecting equipment [7].

As a general rule, the doctor's note should include information such as [2]:

• Your name
• Dates of travel
• A list of the medications you're currently taking, how much you'll have with you, and the doses and strength you take
• A description of any medical equipment you're bringing with you (e.g. syringes for Mounjaro vials)
• The signature of the person who prescribed your drugs

Your medication should always be kept in its original packaging with the prescription label attached, so there are no questions about what it is or who it belongs to [2].

It's also a good idea to take a copy of your prescription with you and check whether these documents will be accepted in English (or whether they need to be translated into the language of the country you're heading to) [2].

Packing your carry-on luggage

According to the patient information leaflet, you should keep your Mounjaro with you at all times when travelling.

This means it's best to pack it in your carry-on bag — where it's less at risk of being exposed to extreme temperatures [1].

If you pack your medications in your checked luggage, there's no way to know what the temperature will be in luggage hold areas. Medication stored at the wrong temperature can become less effective, or even harmful in some cases [8].

Make sure you pack enough medication for your entire trip, but check you're not bringing more than the limit allowed by your destination country (if travelling internationally).

Ice packs and cool bags

While we're talking about temperature, it can be a good idea to take an insulated bag or cool bag with you on your trip — whether you're travelling by car or plane [1].

According to the manufacturers of Mounjaro, it's important to store unused KwikPens or vials between 2 ºC – 8 ºC. You should never freeze Mounjaro (and it should be thrown out immediately if it ends up frozen) [1].

Taking an insulated bag with you can help keep your medication cool. If you're also packing ice packs or frozen gel packs, make sure your medication isn't touching them at all [1].

When travelling by plane, you could also enquire with the airline about storing your medication in the fridge onboard during your flight.

If you're travelling by car, avoid keeping medications in places exposed to heat or intense changes in temperature — like the boot. Never leave your medication in the car for long periods of time [10].

Light exposure

Exposing your weight loss injections to light can affect their stability, degrade the quality of the medication, and make it unsafe to use.

You should keep Mounjaro out of direct sunlight at all times [9]. The best way to protect your medicine from light exposure is to keep it in its original packaging [10].

So far, it appears that the X-rays used at airport security checkpoints don't seem to affect Mounjaro medication [1].

Storing Mounjaro at your accommodation

Before you get to where you're going, you'll want to consider how you're going to store your Mounjaro pens or injections.

According to the storage guidelines, there are a few things to remember about storing Mounjaro pens and vials once they've been used:

• As above, unused pens should always be stored in the refrigerator
• After the first use, Mounjaro pens can be stored at room temperature — as long as it doesn't get above 30°C [1]
• For Mounjaro vials, you can store them at room temperature for up to 21 days, or in the fridge [11]
• Your Mounjaro dose should always be kept away from heat and light [1]

• You should never store your used KwikPens with the needle attached — this prevents leakage or the needle getting blocked
• Used pens should always be stored with the pen cap attached
• Pay close attention to the expiration date and dispose of expired medicine safely
• Always keep your prescription medication out of the reach of children [1][11].

It's a good idea to check ahead of time whether there's a fridge available at your accommodation — that way you've got the best chance at keeping your medication's temperature stable.

Refrigerators vary in temperature depending on the area of the fridge and how much is being stored inside it.

It's best to place your medication away from the very back where the cooling element is, or near the door where temperatures can fluctuate every time it opens [12].

You'll also need to think about disposing of your pens or syringes. Make sure to take a sharps disposal container (or a few if needed) with you.

Put your finished pens or used needles/syringes straight into the sharps container when they're ready to be thrown away — never put them directly into the regular rubbish bin. This keeps everyone safe from needlestick injuries [11].

When your container is full, you'll need to look up local laws on how to dispose of it.

Some places allow it to be placed in general waste, while other communities might require you to take it to a sharps bin, back to a chemist, or a community disposal bin [13].