Quick Answer: To travel safely with Cimzia, keep your prefilled syringes refrigerated between 36°F and 46°F (2°C - 8°C) using a medical-grade cooler. Cimzia can stay at room temperature (below 77°F / 25°C) for up to 7 days, but must never be exposed to heat or direct light.
Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) is an FDA-approved anti-inflammatory medicine used for the treatment of various autoimmune conditions such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and others.
Like most liquid injectable medications used for similar health conditions (Humira, Enbrel, Actemra, Orencia, Simponi, Taltz, Kevzara, or Cosentyx, for example) Cimzia is highly sensitive to extreme temperatures and temperature changes.
As such, it demands specific storage conditions that can make traveling with your prefilled syringes of Cimzia quite challenging. Let's dig into the topic and find out how to keep Cimzia cool and safe while traveling!
Related article: 8 Great Tips for Traveling With Rheumatoid Arthritis!
Cimzia storage instructions
Cimzia is either self-administered at home or injected at your doctor's office. When your doctor has planned for you to self-administer Cimzia, you will receive it in the form of single-dose prefilled syringes for subcutaneous injections.
You will have to make sure to properly store your medicine at home. Indeed, Cimzia requires precise storage temperatures.
How long can Cimzia be out of the fridge?
According to Union Chimique Belge (UCB Company), the manufacturer of Cimzia, your prefilled syringes must be kept in the refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C - 8°C). It additionally says: "if needed, Cimzia syringes may be stored at room temperature up to 77°F (25°C) in the original carton to protect from light for a single period of up to 7 days".
In other words:
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Cimzia can only be left out of refrigeration for a maximum of 7 days
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Once it reaches room temperature, it cannot be placed back in the fridge
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It must never be exposed to direct light
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It should not be exposed to temperatures above 77°F (25°C), even briefly
What happens if Cimzia is left out of the fridge?
Certolizumab pegol, the active ingredient found in your Cimzia prefilled syringe, is a biologic product, also called a biopharmaceutical.
Unlike chemically synthesized drugs, biologics are made from living sources like microorganisms, plants, animals, or even sometimes human cells. As such, biologic drugs like Cimzia, other RA injections, insulin, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and many others are very sensitive to temperatures and can quickly spoil or get contaminated if not properly stored.
If your Cimzia prefilled syringe is left out of the fridge for more than the recommended 7 days:
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It starts losing its efficiency
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It may become contaminated by bacteria
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Never inject Certolizumab pegol if it hasn't been stored correctly
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When in doubt, throw the syringe away
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Use a new one from the fridge instead
How long is Cimzia stable at room temperature?
Cimzia's stability at room temperature is very short. The room temperature is meant to be below 77°F (25°C). Laboratory tests have shown that the active biologic ingredient, Certolizumab pegol, starts deteriorating and losing its efficiency after 7 days out of the fridge.
Thus, the efficiency and safety of your Cimzia injection after 7 days at room temperature are not guaranteed anymore. You should never use a syringe of Cimzia that has been left at room temperature for more than 7 days or exposed to temperatures over 77°F (25°C) even temporarily.
These rigorous storage recommendations can make traveling with Cimzia challenging and stressful. You will need to use a medical-grade travel cooler to keep your Cimzia syringes refrigerated or protected from the heat while not at home.
Related article: Travel Insurance for Arthritis, How to Make Sure You're Covered?
The Best Travel Cooler for Cimzia
Traveling with chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease or diabetes that require refrigerated medications is challenging but not impossible.
After the initial doses have been administered, the maintenance regimen for Cimzia is generally one injection every two other weeks or one injection every 4 weeks.
If your next injection comes up while you are away from home, you must organize and equip yourself to keep your Cimzia syringes refrigerated (if more than 7 days) or at least protected from the outside heat (if less than 7 days).
4AllFamily's medical travel coolers
4AllFamily offers medical-grade portable fridges for travelers who need to keep their medicines refrigerated in any situation. Our product line includes a medical-grade cooler suited to everyone's lifestyle and preferences.
Whether you're a backpacker, a road tripper, a museum addict, a beach lover, or a business class traveler, you'll find the most convenient refrigerating solution for your valuable medication.
Our best-performing travel fridges for medications can keep your Cimzia syringe refrigerated between 36°F and 46°F (2°C - 8°C) for up to 32 hours with biogel packs, and indefinitely when plugged into a power source (when the outside temperature is at 95°F / 35°C). Our products are lightweight and easily portable.
Most of our cooling cases work with either biogel packs or power:
Biogel pack cooling allows you to keep your medication cold without electricity.It's ideal for:
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Airplane flights
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Hiking trips
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Camping
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Beach days
Power cooling requires electricity but is highly flexible.Thanks to USB and car cigarette lighter adapters, it's compatible with:
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Household power
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Car outlets
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Portable solar panels
All our medical coolers are TSA-approved, so you can board the plane with them and enjoy peace of mind that your Cimzia syringes are safe and kept at the perfect temperature.
If you're unsure which of our products would be best suited for your needs, please don't hesitate to contact us. We'd be glad to advise you!
Related article: Flying With Arthritis, How to Prepare for Long-Haul Flights?
More about traveling with refrigerated medications
Traveling with drugs that need refrigeration might stress you out and seem nerve-wracking, but with a good organization and a reliable cooler, you'll be just fine! Millions of people travel with refrigerated meds all year round.
Here are a few tips to make sure your refrigerated medications are safe and don't spoil during your travels:
- Use a medical-grade travel cooler
- Always keep your meds in the shade
- Avoid direct sunlight
- Use a thermometer to keep track of the temperature
- Pack your medication properly and keep the original containers
- If you're flying, never pack your meds in the checked luggage. Keep them in the carry-on with you.
Related article: 10 Useful tips for traveling with Crohn's Disease and IBD
📌 Key Takeaways:
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🧊 Cimzia must be stored refrigerated between 36°F and 46°F (2°C - 8°C) and can only stay at room temperature (below 77°F / 25°C) for up to 7 days.
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🚫 Once out of the fridge, Cimzia cannot be re-refrigerated and should never be exposed to heat or light.
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🧬 As a biologic medication, Cimzia loses effectiveness and may become unsafe if not stored properly.
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🧳 4AllFamily's medical-grade travel coolers keep Cimzia refrigerated using biogel packs (up to 32 hours) or power (indefinitely).
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✈️ Coolers are TSA-approved and ideal for flights, road trips, or outdoor adventures-ensuring safe travel with refrigerated medications.
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📆 Article Update History:
✅ Updated: April 19, 2025
Originally Published: May 13, 2022
