So, you or someone close to you is planning to travel. However, it’s a must for them to take medication that requires refrigeration. We understand how frustrating this could be, especially when it is important to maintain the “cold chain” for the medication to remain effective during transit.
Traveling without having to go along with anything mandatory can be full of fun and memories! The freedom to visit various places can be exciting and is something we all long for, after all. But, when it comes to medication and its storage, oops, this calls for special attention that needs to be paid.
But you don’t need to put yourself under any worthless pressure, as there are many ways to employ it if it comes to transport refrigerated medicine. We are here to show you different ways to keep medication refrigerated in transit.
So, journey with us, and we present to you all the possible ways to make your travel time hassle-free and convenient.
Medications that Needed Refrigeration
Before embarking on the journey, it will be great to understand some of the medications that should always be refrigerated and stored in a temperature-controlled environment. Also, we will briefly dive into what they are using the medicines for and why they should be kept cold.
Insulin Plus Other Diabetic Injectable Medications
Insulin is one important hormone we have in our body that helps to regulate or control the sugar level in the human body. The moment there is less insulin in the body, high levels of glucose build up in the bloodstream.
The result of this is what leads to medical conditions like diabetes, and for those who already have it they need to self-inject insulin with a syringe on a regular basis.
Since this type of medicine is very sensitive and can be quickly ruined if not refrigerated properly. In fact, the allowed temperature for storing insulin is 36-46°F (2-8°C). It’s imperative that they are kept in a cool environment to avoid any sort of spoilage.
Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Other Injectable Medications
Apart from diabetic medications, another type of medication that needs to be refrigerated is human growth hormone, like Omnitrope, Humatrope, Norditropin, and Nutropin. What we use medications like anabolic steroids and others for is to help build our muscles and increase the body’s overall strength.
It is usually injected into the muscles or fat cells of a person, and if not refrigerated, it can easily become spoiled. Another type of injectable medication that needs to be stored coldly is vaccines such as rotavirus, measles, or pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). Vaccines should be stored between 77 degrees.
To transport refrigerated medicine is not always easy since it needs to stay cold at all times. It is important that refrigerated transport service companies take the proper precautions to ensure that these types of medicines are kept at the right temperature during transit.
Vaccines and Other Biological Medications
Vaccines are an important part of preventive health care and should be safely stored at temperatures between-90° C and -60° C. Without vaccine medications today, no doubt the rate of illness, disability, and death due to preventable diseases would be much higher.
With that, as important as this type of medication is, it is needed that these types of medications are handled with care, as they can easily become spoiled if not stored at the right temperatures or mishandled.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Medicines
Rheumatoid arthritis is a health condition whereby a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body; most time, this includes the body joints like hands and feet. In severe conditions, it could also attack the internal organs.
To treat this type of condition, the following are examples of medications
- Humira
- Enbrel
- Orencia
- Actemra
- Cimzia
- Kevzara
- Actemra
- Simponi
- Cosentyx
These types of medications need special care as well as careful planning to make sure they get to the right destination and are still good for consumption.
Sometimes, it is better to check the medicine instruction manual to know the ideal temperature to maintain. However, it is advised that the temperature be 35.6 to 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to 8 degrees Celsius).
Cancer Medications
Due to the advancement in medical technology, the cancer mortality rate has reduced drastically. Many forms of cancer can now be treated with medications that can help prolong life and drastically reduce symptoms.
Medications for this type of condition need to be kept at a temperature between +2 °C and +8 °C) to avoid being useless or too toxic to use. Examples of these medications are:
- Altretamine
- Bendamustine
- Busulfan
- Carboplatin
- Chlorambucil
- Cisplatin
- Cyclophosphamide.
These types of medications can be sensitive to the environment, and any temperature change not within range can lead to spoilage.
Certain HIV Medications
HIV is no longer a death sentence if managed properly and, thanks to the scientists.
Some examples of these medications are :
- Abacavir, or ABC (Ziagen)
- Emtricitabine, or FTC (Emtriva)
- Lamivudine, or 3TC (Epivir)
- Tenofovir alafenamide, or TAF (Vemlidy)
- Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or TDF (Viread)
- Zidovudine or ZDV (Retrovir).
These also need to be kept at a temperature between 36 and 46 Fahrenheit (2-8 Celsius) for maximum efficacy.
There are other medications that should be kept at a different temperature range, such as some asthma medications, Epipen, and Glaucoma eye drops, including Amivoig and Emgalty for migraines, Testosterone, Penile injections for people with erectile dysfunction, such as Trimix or Caverject.
Steps to Follow When Transporting Refrigerated Medicines
Transporting a medicine that needs to be refrigerated calls for serious preparation and special care. Whether you are going by air, road, or water, we will say the best and smartest way to go about it is to seek a professional logistics company in Canada.
With a professional logistics company that offers pharmaceutical logistics services, you will get a temperature-controlled environment to transport your refrigerated medicines. Aside from that, there are other benefits attached to it, such as :
- 24/7 tracking of the shipment.
- Improved safety and security.
- Faster delivery times with temperature-controlled transport options.
- Peace of mind knowing that your medicine is in safe hands.
When transporting refrigerated medicines, you should abide by the following precautions.
Choose the Right Packaging
Transporting refrigerated medicines requires the use of an insulated package to ensure that the temperature remains constant for as long as possible. Here, the most common options are Styrofoam boxes or coolers with ice packs, which can be reused if necessary.
You should also consider using a gel pack or similar product to keep your medicine at the proper temperature during transportation. The type of packaging should be carefully chosen in order to ensure that the medicine remains at its optimum temperature during transit.
Use Temperature-Controlling Devices
There are several devices available that can be used to control the temperature of a refrigerated medicine during transportation. These devices should be checked regularly to ensure that your medicine’s temperature is at its optimum level throughout the journey.
You should not be far from checking the readings, so monitor it closely so that any changes in temperature can be detected and addressed quickly.
Follow Regulations and Guidelines
It’s a must to be familiar with all the regulations and guidelines related to transporting refrigerated medicines to make sure that your shipment complies with them. This is essential for ensuring that your medicine remains safe and secure during transit.
Finally, it’s also important to remember that refrigerated medicines’ transportation requires great care and attention to detail. It is essential that you follow all the guidelines and precautions related to the transportation of refrigerated medicines locally or internationally in order to ensure that they remain safe and effective during transport.
Maintain the Medication’s Original Package
The medication comes with its own packaging, which helps to maintain its efficacy and quality. It is important to leave the medicine in its original packaging when transporting it, as this reduces the risk of contamination or damage.
To make this possible, avoid having issues with TSA or customs personnel when you’re traveling, and use a specific type of packaging, like insulated containers with temperature-monitoring systems.
Do Not Pack Your Medicine In Your Checked Luggage
It sounds not that serious, actually, but it could be a very crucial mistake that can lead to the damage to your medication or compromise its quality and efficacy. Your checked luggage is stored away in the hold and exposed to temperature fluctuations. This could make your medicine lose its potency or even spoil it completely.
It is best to keep your medication with you on board at all times, as this will help reduce the risk of damage or contamination during transit. It may also be wise to check if there are any special requirements for traveling with refrigerated medications in your particular destination.
Check Your Refrigerated Medicine Frequently
Because you have no control over the temperature of your medicine while it is in transit, you should check on them regularly to make sure that they are still safe and effective. It is also important to keep a record of all your refrigerated medications during transit.
This will help you track their temperature changes and any potential problems with their quality or efficacy.
Use A TSA-Approved Medicine Cooler
To avoid any delay or issue when traveling with refrigerated medicine, it is best to use an approved medicines cooler that meets the TSA requirements.
With this type of cooler, you can be sure that your medication will be kept at a consistent temperature throughout the journey, as it also comes with a temperature-monitoring system that helps to keep the medication cool all through the journey. This way, you know when to take extra precautions and make sure that they are still safe to take.
Refrigerated Medicine Transportation Tips
To ensure that your refrigerated medication is safe and effective during transit, here are a few tips you should follow:
- Check the expiration date of all medications before traveling with them.
- Pack your medicine in an insulated bag or container, along with some gel ice packs to keep it cool.
- Include a copy of your prescription, just in case there are any questions at the airport or destination.
- Store medications away from direct sunlight and other sources of heat, such as car engines or air conditioners.
- Make sure to check the temperature of the medicine regularly while it is in transit. If you notice that it has risen too high or dropped too low, take the necessary steps to ensure its safety.
Wrapping Up
Traveling with refrigerated medications can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. In order to have total peace of mind, the best thing to do is leverage a professional logistics company to transport your medication.
That way, you can be sure that your refrigerated medicine is in good hands the entire time and won’t experience any temperature fluctuations that could compromise its effectiveness.
