Injectable Medications and Italy Quarantine, how is that handled?

Humira is a pretty unique and complex medication. I doubt you could just walk into a clinic and request it. Most ship cabins have refrigerators and you can store whatever you want (check with your cruise line or travel agent). For transport Amazon sells items to keep medications cold. Get an extra dose before you leave.

I have cruised and every stateroom has come with a mini bar stashed with overpriced drinks but great for storing my insulin! Contact the cruise company if you want to confirm you will have a fridge in your stateroom.

I know the easy answer is to bring along another dose just in case.
The trouble is that it needs to be refrigerated, and I understand they
won't keep things for you in a fridge on cruise ships.

As I understand it (just researching for my own needs as I will be starting Humira soon)
Humira can be kept at room temperature for up to 14 days.
Time your doses so you take one just before leaving, next while on trip then you have 14 days tl next.
I don't think it wil be easy at all to acquire this med while abroad.

And I am pretty sure cruise ships, etc MUST offer refrigeration for meds-although you wil most likely have minibar in your room- there are plenty of people that need insulin for example.
Check with your cruise line.

I've only been on two cruises, but both of them had mini-fridges in the room. What cruise line are you on? Can you contact them and ask if you have a mini-fridge?

Thank you Alan/lanlubber/ChristineH/Carol, I appreciate the thoughts and advice.

We are on a Royal Caribbean cruise, in a balcony room. I am not sure if there's a minibar fridge, I will find out. I will also check Amazon for travel equipment, maybe we could actually bring that extra dose and time it so he's ok.

Christine it's been a real help for my son and I hope it's helpful for you. I have read that too about the 14 days but it makes me so nervous as it comes overnight, packed with ice packs and all kinds of things. I will have to get out my calendar and figure out some dates.

RCI cabins all have a minibar. Bring the extra dose(s) with you.

You may want to research how consistent the temp of the meds need to be, and also how stable the temp is in a mini-fridge. Way back when I worked in special education, some of the students needed meds to be kept refrigerated. We were told we had to purchase regular refrigerators, as the mini-refrigerators did not maintain constant temperatures. That was a decade ago, and perhaps the technology has improved.

I do think the suggestion of asking if the medical department has good, accessible refrigeration is a good one.

Safe travels!

@topaz213
Please also review with your son's doctor whether or not Humira should be taken in the event that he tests positive for Covid while on travel. It might not be information you need if all goes smoothly, but if nothing else, it's part of your "plan B" knowledge.

I am not a doctor, but I have been a Humira patient before, and although am not on it now, I am aware that it is an immunosuppressant. I am on a different immunosuppressant now, but my doctor advised me to stop taking it in the event that I get Covid (and at the times I was getting vaccinated).
Planning for extra medication doses is part of my travel planning now (see thread on "what is your plan B").

p.s. when I have travelled in past with self-injectables, I carried it in an insulated pack (like an insulated lunchbag) with a coolpack (slowly defrosting over days similar to the sort that the specialist pharmacy overnighted it with). I carried a signed note from my doctor and a copy of a prescription. The pharmaceutical companies issued a carrying case for traveling, but this involved a fitted insulated case, an ice pack holder and a larger insulated case. This was just to get it to the destination where I was staying, and then the meds (and coolpack) went into a refrigerator.
The concern was sharps disposal: I'm not sure how available it is on a cruise ships, but I carried an empty canister and duct tape, to be able to pack it and secure it before disposal, rather than carry a biohazard sharps jug around.

More planning to remember, but it is totally worth it to avoid the autoimmune response while on a trip. (keep telling yourself this when you think the bag is a bit heavy).
I would bring extra doses if possible, in the event of quarantine. Keep in mind that Humira is a specialist pharmacy medication, needs special authorization, and in other countries in the world, some monoclonal antibody drugs might not be preferred /easily dispensed.

Royal Carribean has orange sharps containers on the ship, just ask your room steward and they will bring you one. If you bring injectible medicine through a European airport you will need a medical letter signed by your doctor on the the medical practices letterhead. It does not have to go into specific details. Ie it can say "my patient _________ is under my medical care for an autoimmune disorder requiring an injectible medication that must be kept refridgerated".

I traveled to London in 2001 with vials of medications that needed to be refridgerated and syringes. No issues on British Airways and hotel unlocked and emptied mini fridge, provided a sharps container.

Back to London in 2007 to cruise on Royal Carribean. Same as above, no issues. Used mini fridge in my cabin and steward brought a sharps container.

Portugal 2011 with same medication but now in blister packs with medication and syringe in each pack, room temp no more ice packs or fridges. Lisbon equiv TSA tried to take all 10 of my blister packs even with note due to syringes. Said ok I could keep them after showing letter and said traveling to Rome. On return transfer in Lisbon, they took my blister pack, had to ask for $400 medication vial back, they just wanted the syringe.