It is fairly easy to travel with Mounjaro. However, you should follow some important steps to make sure your medication remains effective, such as shielding it from light.
All medications have individual storage requirements to help maintain their effectiveness and safety. Some medications, such as Mounjaro, are best kept refrigerated. Traveling can make these storage requirements harder to fulfill.
It is always important to follow the instructions provided by your doctor or pharmacist while storing medications. However, traveling can bring unique situations you may be unprepared for.
In this article, we explain how to travel with Mounjaro injection pens. We also answer some frequently asked questions about how to store the medication safely while you travel.
Traveling with Mounjaro is possible, whether you are going by plane, train, or car. It is important to adhere to the storage requirements of the medication, if possible.
If this is not possible you must be aware of the usage limitations of the medication. Certain medications, such as Mounjaro, are less stable. This means they are more likely to become ineffective in warmer temperatures and when exposed to light.
Temperature control
Mounjaro is available as a single-dose pen that is given as a subcutaneous injection. At home, Mounjaro needs to be refrigerated at a temperature between 36 °F and 46 °F (2°C and 8°C). This prevents the molecular structure of the active ingredient in Mounjaro, tirzepatide, from degrading and becoming ineffective for as long as possible.
That’s why it is best to keep Mounjaro refrigerated while traveling, if possible. Specific medical-grade cooling packs or travel coolers can keep your medication within its refrigeration temperatures for up to 12 hours.
However, these are not always effective. You may also be traveling for longer than 12 hours without access to a fridge, placing your medication at risk of heating up.
It’s important to note that Mounjaro is still safe to administer after exposure to room temperatures of up to 86°F (30°C) for up to 21 days.
So if you are unable to keep your medication cool, it is safe to administer Mounjaro at room temperature. However, it is safe to do so only within 21 days of removing the medication from refrigeration.
You can place any unused pens back in a refrigerator once you have access to one, but any pens that were previously brought to room temperature will still need to be used within 21 days.
Light exposure
Each box of Mounjaro contains four pens. Exposing Mounjaro pens to light can cause the medication to become ineffective.
While traveling, you should keep the medication in its original packaging. This will protect it from light exposure, ensuring the medication stays safe and effective for use.
Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions about traveling with Mounjaro medication.
What happens if Mounjaro is not refrigerated?
If Mounjaro is removed from the fridge, it is generally still safe and effective for you to administer. However, it becomes unsafe and ineffective after 21 days or if it is kept in an environment that reaches temperatures higher than 86 °F (30 °C).
If you plan on traveling without refrigerating Mounjaro, you must use the unrefrigerated pens within 21 days, even if they are placed back in the refrigerator at any point.
How do you fly with Mounjaro?
If your travel plans include flights, it is still safe for you to travel with Mounjaro. However, it is important to keep your medication in your cabin luggage, also called your carry-on luggage. This allows you to control the temperature of the medication and prevents the possibility of it being lost.
Keeping Mounjaro in its original packaging is important to prevent light exposure, which can damage the medication. It is also important for airport security. Storing Mounjaro in its packaging allows the Transport Security Administration (TSA) to quickly and effectively screen your medications as safe for transport.
The TSA also allows cool packs and other refrigeration accessories to pass the screening checkpoint, whether frozen or melted. You will have to place them in a separate bin or bowl apart from the rest of your carry-on luggage at the time of screening.
All medications have storage requirements, and it is important to maintain these requirements while you travel. Mounjaro, an injectable medication for managing blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, requires refrigeration.
While traveling, try storing your Mounjaro pens inside a cool bag with an ice pack. It is safe to travel by plane with labeled medication in a cool bag inside your carry-on luggage. If necessary, the medication may be kept out of the fridge, up to 86°F (30 °C), for a certain amount of time.
It is important to always travel with your medication in its original packaging. This protects it from damaging light exposure and helps the TSA to identify it as safe for travel.
If you have questions about best practices for traveling with Mounjaro, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.