Managing Enbrel or Humira on the move | Arthritis Information

 

Hi, My name is Niall, this is my first post. I have been taking Humira (similar drug to Enbrel) for almost 3 years now. While this has been an absolute wonder drug for me and has transformed my life completely it has been a real pain trying to keep it cold while on the move.
I was planning to go traveling for a year but due to the fact I need to keep my medication cool I have decided to put off the trip.

My question is simple, are you my fellow sufferers confined to their countries because they cannot travel due to the temperature sensitive needs of their medication!
Does anybody have any good ideas on how to keep Humira or Enbrel cold while traveling? I dont really trust the cool pack I got from my pharmacist.


I am a college student and this problem area has led me to do one of my final year projects on developing a device for people like us to carry their meds around.

I would really appreciate any feedback you could post me back. I also attempted to create a survey, see link below. If anyone has a few minutes to spare I would appreciate any attempt you make to fill it out. I probably will put it in my appendices to back up my findings.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=512083799749

Hope to hear from you all, very soon


Niall

Niall--I've been on Enbrel for about eight months now.  I've never traveled to other countries with Enbrel, but I live in the United States and have traveled quite a bit within the states.  I've traveled both by air and by car.  I use the travel cooler I got from Enbrel/Enliven Services.  I haven't had a problem with it.  I've kept the Enbrel in the travel cooler for as long as ten hours while traveling...I make sure to refrigerate the Enbrel whenever I can--and of course re-freeze the icepacks.

I haven't had any problems with security at airports either.  I let them know that I have a self-injectable medication that I'll be carrying on and I haven't been questioned any further yet.  Since I haven't traveled internationally, I don't know if that would pose more problems, but I think it would be okay--lots of people have to take injectable meds for one reason or another.

Also, I get my Enbrel prescription through a mail-order pharmacy.  They send me one month supply at a time.  They ship it via Fed-ex next day service.  It's enclosed in styrofoam and surrounded by icepacks.  They will ship it to another location for me if I ask them to--so if I'm travelling, I could have it shipped to where I was staying.  I don't know if they would ship it outside states though.

Don't know how much this helped--

dordale  dordale839211.9953819444Hi Dordale,

My apologies for taking so long to get back to you. I have been crazy busy with college.
Thanks for your reply. I suppose I'm just very apprehensive about taking my humira away from the fridge at all. I know if I were to keep a close eye on it and keep the ice fresh I should be ok, but that seems like alot of work and what if there is no ice available wherever I am? I'd like to go on holidays with an easy mind not having to worry about where I'm gonna get my next ice fix :)  

Did you get a chance to fill in my survey? I've had a disappointing response rate  :(  
Here's the link to it if ya get the chance.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=512083799749

Thanks again.

Niall If you have been taking Enbrel or Humira, what side effects have you had?  Do you take anything to help your immune system like vitamins, minerals or the like?  Hi Jerome....
I saw your question on the discussion board....
have had RA many years, knees replaced, never, ever was afraid to take these meds..it as a question of my quality of life...
Started Enbrel, when it came out, in 2000...ALWAYS NEEDED.....MTX with it.....began HUMIRA....when it came out, maybe 2002? used MTX with it...
am now in remission, controlled with meds.....after 12 years, just got off MTX....and can stretch the Humira out 3 weeks.....
just now, i had a bad sinus infection, but i was run down, and was flying on planes......SOOOO never in 12 years, have i ever had a bad infection, got my flu shots every year..
the fatique, the stiffness are all gone....I am grateful for all the advances in our RA meds, because there just were not many meds out years back, and i am almost 60...
   Until, i started reading these boards, i have never been aware of so many people afraid of meds...i was more afraid of not being able to walk, or be in a wheelchair

good luck on your decisions..some people have yo just find the right drug combo

TO AIMEE 11

Did you have sinus problems before taking Enbrel. Seems a lot have sinus problems. I did not ask that question of many. I also understand it is about quality of life and I had been existing. Now I look forward to taking it next week, took my TB test, ordered it..sticker shock and am ready to go.  Had cortisone shot in my right shoulder for it began hurting, left shoulder replaced two years ago. MTX and sulpha...did nothing. up to 25 mg.  So now it is almost a relief to make this decision.  I have read that some do not get relief. I hope I am not one of them.  Remember what I said in another post ..do not take echinacea if feel run down. I was going to take it until I asked. All my vitamins and minerals listed, even sterols which is supposed to enhance immune, he said were okay, so I don't think there is anything I missed. Fish oil still on the take  list.

Thanks. Joanne

No Jerome,
Trying to remember
I had surgery on deviated septum, i have it written what year in my wallet....

   and they did NOT remove polyp in nasal, sinus area, as that is separate surgery....it's a little hard to sleep on that side, can't breathe, but i can't really say i have had many sinus infections
   I began on Enbrel, and moved on to Humira..
I don't remember any particular sinus probs, and have been on biologics for 7 years..
I have heard fish oil is good or RA, also..i tell the doc, about each vitamin i am taking.
Sorry, about the shoulder replacement, hope it is working outPAT...WAS THE ENBREL BEFORE OR AFTER THE KNEE AND FOOT SURGERIES? ... JUST CURIOUS... GARYGary, first knee replacements, and ankle fusions were before Enbrel..prednisone wasn't helping
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