Best tips for keeping refrigerated meds cool while traveling?

There are lots of products listed on sites like Amazon for keeping med's cool - https://www.amazon.ca/keep-medicine-cool-while-traveling/s?k=keep+medicine+cool+while+traveling .

This website also provides some suggestions - https://www.passporthealthglobal.com/2024/11/tips-for-traveling-with-medicine-that-needs-to-stay-cold/ .

I've never had to travel with med's that need to stay cold, so don't have much experience with this, but wanted to try and provide a few suggestions anyway.

Good luck!

Best to get specific advice for your medication. I know about Insulin for diabetes but it depends what temp the medication must be kept at. I was quite stressed about it, as had 2x long haul flights and 7 weeks of travel. But it was easy in the event.

I ordered a Packit brand bag from Amazon - about 8" x 10", with built in blue refreezable packs, and I keep the bag in the freezer ready to go. In the past I have also used an insulated bag and refreezable ice packs. Both of these methods have kept my biologic med safe on long flights, or traveling for a day between hotels.

Going through TSA is not a problem as long as the ice packs are solid; if they are slushy or melted, TSA will confiscate them. I always select a room with refrigerator if traveling on my own, and if on a tour, you can specify you need a refrigerator due to your medical needs. I then ask the hotel to refreeze my ice packs - package them, label with your name and room number, and specify when you will pick up. In my experience in Europe, they are required to accommodate your medical needs. I really stressed about this the first time I traveled after beginning the med, but it has turned out fine. Last time I stayed at a hotel near the airport pre-flight, and when retrieving my ice packs, the front desk had several to choose from before finding mine. So you are not alone!

Carol, I use the FRIO bag, which works very well for me. It's lightweight but keeps the medication cold when needed. I've been lucky so far in that all my hotel rooms have had mini fridges, but if not, I would ask the front desk to store it while I'm there.

I had to do this for a few years when I was taking a biological injectable. I used an insulated bag similar to a lunch box, and the hard freezer packs, which seemed to stay frozen longer. At each hotel, if my room fridge didn't have a freezer compartment, I had the hotel refreeze it for me as described above.

You also might want to talk to your pharmacy, or review the medication information, to determine how long your meds can be at room temperature. For example, while a GLP is stored in refrigeration, some can be at room temp for a couple weeks. Still recommend having some type of cooler bag, but you never know when you might be stuck for a night two without dependable refrigeration.

Paul beat me to it! I have one medication that needs refrigeration but can be out of the fridge for up to 7 days. I take it monthly and I do my best to time travel around my leeway of seven days. I am fortunate that I can take it several days early or later without a problem.

I use the 4allfamily classic for my type 2 diabetes meds. This model comes with a freezing pack and USB cooler. Use freezer pack while flying, then run USB in my room. I have also run USB on trains. Kept everything fridge temp. Also, hotels will freeze the ice pack for you. I have found that most hotels are familiar with these. Only security issue I had was in Frankfurt airport. They had police officer c
ome and check the device, then all ok. TSA has only asked me to open it on about half my flights.