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?

Yes you do and also HRT in case people aren’t aware of that too

@Pemba just put the pen and needles in your suitcase. Unless it’s unopened it doesn’t need to be kept cool. It will be fine.

Mine is with the Post office and they made a note but still insurered. Which ones have said no?

All medications including private prescriptions should be declared on your travel insurance. Obesity is considered a pre existing medical condition. This article contains quotes from several insurers about WLI.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/travel/weight-loss-jab-warning-500000-32057837

When I added Mounjaro to my medications list a pop up box asked for my weight.

The travel insurance is not invalidated by not declaring use of Mounjaro (or HRT). Read the insurer quotes carefully. What they are saying is that they may not pay a claim which is related to the use of the WLI. That is in keeping with the Insurance Act 2015. They can’t use undeclared Mounjaro to decline a claim related to you breaking your leg or being in a car crash.

If you are worried about the Mounjaro making you ill while on holiday then go ahead, declare it and pay the higher premium, that’s your call.

Yes. They put obesity as an existing condition. You need to declare this or they won’t pay out in the event you need to use it.

I recently did this with my travel insurance and it’s not cost me anything extra

When I spoke to my insurer about it I wasn’t obese anymore but because the WLI are for obesity that’s what they added it as. Best to be safe than sorry. It’s any prescribed medication within the last 2 years that they need to know about so I would recommend just declaring it.

One of my policies did (long haul) but one didn’t!

On the travel question, I’ve flown with my pen in hand luggage to various South American countries, China, USA, South Africa, Australia and Ireland over the last six months (my job requires a lot of travel!) and have not once been asked to produce a prescription letter. The sheer volume of people who must travel with this medication these days means it’s unlikely anyone would bother to ask questions as long as the one treated like any other liquids per that airport’s requirements. Have a lovely holiday!

I have literally just taken out travel insurance with the RAC - based on this thread I declared obesity and was asked my height and weight and whether I suffered from sleep apnea (sp) and that was it.

You’re overthinking. I’ve flown with it in hand luggage and nobody gave a shit. Not in America and not in Europe. Doesn’t need to be kept cold but it was hot in Spain so I did keep it in my fridge there.

For insurance, I couldn’t see where to declare Mounjaro as I’d seen people discuss it on here; so I just declared obesity.

Well actually it does have to be kept below a certain temperature, I think it's 30°. I've bought a special case with ice packs to transport it.

Also if you meant put it in your checked bagage you shouldn't, as in the 'hold' or whatever you call it on the plane, the temperature can sometimes drop to freezing, you can't freeze Mounjaro. You can take it in the cabin with you.

I am finding this stuff out all the time. So complicated!

I have just gone on holiday with mounjaro and needles, they are medical supplies so no one even bats an eyelid. Took them in my hand luggage and went through security fine.

It only has to be kept cold before it is opened. Do you realise that 30 degrees is way above normal room temperature in anywhere that it is comfortable to be as a human being?As long as you don’t leave it out in direct sunlight it won’t go over 30. You’ve wasted your money buying - specialist cool pack. And aircraft luggage holds are pressurised and temperature controlled. They can get cold but they are generally kept above 0 for the exact purpose of preventing liquids from freezing. Has any other liquid ever frozen in the hold of a plane when you you’ve gone on holiday? You’re finding out all sorts of new nonsense on the internet, that is true.