Traveling with Forteo - Osteoporosis Message Board

taape · 01-30-2005, 01:14 PM

Has anyone been successful in traveling with their Forteo pen? I have to travel for work sometimes and need to take my medicine with me. The first time I put it in an ice chest and the pen got below freezing. The next time I used the cold packs provided by the company but the pen didn't stay cold enough for 2-3 hours like it said in the instructions. It's frustrating and I can't keep skipping my medicine every time I have to travel.Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Oldbones · 01-31-2005, 01:32 AM

taape.....
I freeze the cold packs just until they are "slushy" and pliable enough to fit in the compartments of the cosmetic type travel bag provided in the start-up kit. I have found that this keeps the pen cold for 3 to 4 hours. I'm surprised that the pen got too cold in an ice chest because mine arrives from my mail-order pharmacy in an ice chest with frozen ice packs. Have you tried placing the pen inside the travel bag (no cold packs) and then putting the bag in the ice chest with ice or frozen cold packs? The insulation in the bag would probably keep it from getting too cold.

I know how much of a hassle it is to travel with the pen, especially for long distances. So far, I've only missed two doses in the 10 months I've been taking Forteo. Both times, I waited later than usual to give the shot and fell asleep.....completely forgot about it.

I'm sure someone else will have more suggestions.

Oldbones

Jone · 01-31-2005, 11:17 AM

I use the same suggestion above- keep pen in case with ice packs so it won't freeze. When I get to a hotel, I put ice in the ice bucket and put my case and pen in a plastic bag and put in down in the ice. It keeps fine that way. For a long plane trip, I would put it with ice packs in the container in which it was shipped. It is in there for a day or so and seems to arrive in good shape. Also, I try to time my pen so that I will finish it on my trip so I don't have to worry about taking it back home.

taape · 01-31-2005, 07:10 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I know the cold packs say not to freeze them but how can a 40 degree cold pack stay cool enough for 3 or 4 hours. So I'll try that. Do you all use thermometers inside the travel bag to make sure it's between the correct range? I'll get a refrigerator provided at the hotels.

Oldbones · 02-02-2005, 12:55 AM

Hi taape.....
I have to say that I didn't use a thermometer to make sure my Forteo pen was in the correct range but I knew it definitely wasn't freezing and it was cold. Seems like I've felt the temperature of the pen so many times when it comes right out of the refrigerator that I can tell if it feels right. I know that's not the proper way and I should probably put a thermometer in the forteo travel bag to be on the safe side.

You are right about the cold packs. There's NO way a 40 degree cold pack will stay cool for any length of time. I save up all the gel packs that my mail order Forteo is packed in when delivered. I've built up quite a stock of them. I keep these frozen all the time and keep the styrofoam box also. If I have to leave in a hurry, I just throw some frozen gel packs in the styrofoam container, put the pen in the travel bag and I'm on my way. Like I said before, I also put the partially frozen packets in the zipper compartment of the travel bag too. The travel bag w/ice pack works fine for short distances. For longer distances, I use the styrofoam container.

~Oldbones