Mounjaro - what about holidays and flying

[Pemba]

Have been on Mounjaro for about a week and a half and it's great! Not feeling sick, just not particularly interested in food and no cravings. I am on 2.5 mg. Then in about 2 weeks the pharmacist told me he'd probably increase it to 5 mg.

But we were going to book a holiday for the end of July and what happens then, surely the Airlines won't be happy to carry the pen with needles (!), wouldn't I get in trouble at customs? Also how would I keep it cold?

We're probably going for about 2 weeks. Do I just have to stop and resume when we get back, and at what dose? What do people do?

The needles would be fine in hold luggage I'm sure, people with diabetes must do this. It's the keeping it cool that would be the issue. If it were me I would time a Jag and take it just before going. On the other hand , it's your holiday, go and enjoy yourself and just pick up when you come back

Yes you can carry it with you in your carry on luggage, take your box with the prescription label on it just in case and you can buy cases that keep them cool (but keep in mind the pens don’t need to be refrigerated once open as long as it’s not above 30 degrees so will be fine for a plane journey, but you’d need a fridge if you’re in a hot country).

I just take mine with me. It doesn’t have to be kept cold and it’s a prescription medication so it’s fine to take on board plane.

Has it impacted any travel insurance?

it's fine to take in handluggage

Take as hand baggage. Use a Frio (available on Amazon) wallet to keep pen cool.

I have told insurers but just so long as you have it prescribed legally then it’s okay. I also declared my obesity levels, though I have only been doing so since starting MJ.

I just got back from 2 weeks in Turkey.

I took the pen in a Frio wallet to keep it cool (not fridge cold but under 26° c

Took the box containing pen needles, swabs and a spare insulin syringe with needle.

All of it in my hand luggage.
Neither UK or Turkish airport even pulled it for checking.

Regarding insurance, I called the week before we flew to advise them I'd been prescribed it for obesity. They had no issues with the MJ, but did put the premium up by £30 for the medical condition.

TBH it had never crossed my mind to declare obesity as a condition so I'm glad the MJ prompted me to do it. I will always add it as a condition in future.

Thanks everyone, seems as though I was overthinking it. After all, as you pointed out, what do people with diabetes do? And probably other conditions. Never heard of the Frio thing, that's great.

Just the prescription label will be enough do you think? I don't need some kind of letter from the pharmacy?

Mine didn't even get checked but the prescription label should be enough.

Do you have a copy of the prescription or email confirmation that you could provide?

I do think you are overthinking though and you won't even be questioned 😉

Definitely overthinking it. Just take the pen, Frio wallet, pen box, any needles you need and swabs. I have done 3 trips and no one has shown any interest, though it was interesting trying to spot who had a pen in their clear plastic wallet going through LHR back check in December.

This is a good reminder for me to call travel insurance and declare! There was no options on the drop down when arranging the insurance for obesity etc so husband just skipped it but for good piece of mind I’m gona ring and advise.

Sorry, what are we declaring? Being obese or being on munjaro?

Both, insurance companies can be slippery and use any excuse to get out of paying a claim.

Iirc someone's claim was refused for something totally unrelated as she did not declare that she was taking hrt.

I had an issue earlier this year with travel insurance. I mentioned it during a phone conversation for renewing an existing annual policy and the agent told me I was uninsurable with them (Aviva) if I was taking Mounjaro!! I investigated further and complained and eventually got a retraction and apology for their lack of knowledge on the subject and they agreed to cover me. In the event, I switched to Admiral who were fine with it.

@TheMeasure good to know thank you

@SevernWonders that's my concern, what happens if you have something happen on holiday and the insurance companies try & link it to the jabs. I don't trust them at all

But so long as you've declared it, and you have a valid prescription you should be fine.

Yes we should declare obesity as it is classified as a pre-existing condition. I only cottoned onto declaring it when a lady became ill in USA without travel insurance.

@TheMeasure this is good to know as my husband went with admiral! Will ring them tomorrow and report back!!

bust back from a month Central America, 2 weeks in uk and 2 months in SE Asia.. 32 flights. Never ever questioned about my pen and needles.

You absolutely do need to declare it on your travel insurance.

I did not realise you had to declare obesity - really helpful to know. I am now in the ‘overweight’ category, does that have to be declared? Insurance companies can be sneaky, I wouldn’t want to be caught out.

I am lloking for insurance to cover it and am struggling, if anyone has a company they can advise that would be great

Well that would be in breach of UK insurance law so I doubt it.

You do not have to declare taking Mounjaro for travel insurance.

Nonsense. If they wanted you to declare your weight they would have a question asking what your height is and how much you weigh.