Dupixent is the brand name of dupilumab, an FDA-approved drug used to treat symptoms of various chronic health conditions, including eczema, asthma, eosinophilic esophagitis, and others.
If you’ve been prescribed Dupixent, you must know your medicine requires specific storage conditions, constant refrigeration, and protection from heat and light.
What happens if your next injection occurs while traveling or away from home? How to travel or fly with refrigerated medications like Dupixent? How to make sure it stays cool even when you don't have access to a fridge? What documents should you bring with you?
Our team of experts answers all your questions here.
Related article: How long can Dupixent stay out of the fridge without going bad?
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How to keep Dupixent refrigerated while traveling?
Dupilumab is a biological drug made with organic living sources from plants, animals, or even humans. As such, it's extremely sensitive to external conditions such as temperature and light. Dupixent must then be stored in specific conditions to stay active and effective.
According to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi Genzyme, the manufacturers of Dupixent, the unopen injectable medicine must be stored in the fridge between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C) until it’s either used or expired.
Once open or out of the fridge, your Dupixent pens or syringes must be used within 14 days. During that time, they must be protected from high temperatures, and never should they be exposed to temperatures above 77°F (25°C) or direct sunlight.
If Dupixent is left unrefrigerated for more than 14 days or exposed to high temperatures even temporarily, it isn't safe for use anymore. The medicine might go bad, get contaminated, or lose efficiency.
These rigorous storage instructions make it a tiny bit tricky to travel with Dupixent. But don't worry, thousands of people travel with refrigerated medications, including people with diabetes, arthritis, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma, and numerous other chronic conditions. They’re doing just fine! All you need is a good organization and a reliable medical travel cooler.
Related article: Safety Tips for Traveling with Mild or Severe Asthma.
Dupixent travel kit
A portable cooler is essential to travel with Dupixent or any other medicine that requires refrigeration or room temperature cooling.
While some quickly pack their drugs into insulated lunch bags filled with a few ice cubes, these rudimentary DIY coolers aren’t reliable enough for medications.
The safest and most convenient way to refrigerate Dupixent while traveling is to use a medical-grade travel cooler like the ones we've designed at 4AllFamily.
4AllFamily portable travel coolers for medicines
These are the safest and most performant travel coolers for medicines you can find on the market today. Depending on your needs, you can choose a model that works with gel packs, USB power, or even both!
Different options are available, from the lightest cooling bottle to the ultimate portable mini-fridge that offers temperature display and auto shut-off anti-freeze safety.
Our ultimate cooler can keep your Dupixent at constant fridge temperature 36-46°F / 2-8°Cwhen plugged into any USB power source (car cigarette lighter, travel size power bank, portable USB solar panel, household power, etc.). So it's ideal for road trips, beach hotels, business travels, or even outdoor adventures with solar electricity!
When used without electricity (freeze-packs cooling method), the same cooler maintains fridge temperature for up to 52 hours when the outside temperature is 86°F / 30°C.
Our nomad cooling bottles would be more convenient if you prefer to pack as light as possible for your next trip. The smaller model is ideal for carrying 1 pen of Dupixent and can fit into your purse or backpack, while the bigger model allows you to refrigerate up to 3 Dupixent pens.
All our coolers are TSA-approved for airplane travel so that you can board the plane with your high-value refrigerated Dupixent syringes in your carry-on bag.
International travels with Dupixent
Flying or traveling internationally with medications implies preparation and sometimes some documentation. Fortunately, Dupixent is a widely used medicine, and most destination countries are familiar with it, so you shouldn't face any particular issue when crossing international borders or at the airport. However, here are a few tips and reminders to make your journey smoother.
Related article: Does asthma affect travel insurance?
Flying with injectable medicines like Dupixent
Because Dupixent is a liquid injectable medicine, you may logically wonder if you can take it on a plane. TSA regulations about traveling with liquids don’t apply to medicines. The guidelines to fly with medications are straightforward and clearly state that you can bring as much medicine as you need on board.
If you're taking the plane with Dupixent, you must pack it into your carry-on. Hazardous temperature and atmospheric conditions in the hold could damage your medicine. Plastic bags are not required for liquid medication, but make sure to pack your treatment so that it's appropriate for security screening. Ideally, it must be kept in its original container with readable labels.
If your medicine needs refrigeration or cooling, you can take a medical cooler on the plane. 4AllFamily's travel coolers are all TSA-approved for airplane travel.
Related article: How to travel with refrigerated medications?
What documents do you need to travel with Dupixent?
If you're flying nationally to a USA destination, you don't necessarily need to show a prescription. However, your Dupixent pens or syringes should be labeled or kept in their original containers to be easily identifiable by the airport security staff.
If you're flying internationally, it's good practice to have a copy of your medical prescription and a doctor's note in some cases. Depending on your destination, you may be required to show the following documentation when traveling with Dupixent:
- A letter from your doctor
- Your medical prescriptions
- A document from your pharmacy
- A medical health card
You may need to translate these documents into your destination country's official language, but English is generally ok. If you have doubts, check with the authority of your destination country before departure. You can find more detailed information here:
Related article: How to travel with medications internationally?
