Can I Take Self-Injectable Meds or Syringes on an Airplane?

Summer is upon us and with that brings summer travel and vacations.  If you take injectable medications to treat your arthritis, can you bring those with you when you fly to your destination?

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), “All medications in any form or type (for instance, pills, injectables, or homeopathic) and associated supplies (syringes, Sharps disposal container, pre-loaded syringes, jet injectors, pens, infusers, etc.) are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened.”

TSA also indicates that medications do not need to be labeled.  However, in order to prevent any hold ups, I would recommend labeling your medications or keep them in their original containers that contain prescription labels.

Medications and supplies are usually screened via x-ray.  However, TSA allows you to request visual screening instead.  If you prefer the visual screening option, TSA offers these guidelines:

• You must request a visual inspection before the screening process begins; otherwise your medications and supplies will undergo X-ray inspection.
• If you would like to take advantage of this option, please have your medication and associated supplies separated from your other property in a separate pouch/bag when you approach the Security Officer at the walk-through metal detector.
• Request the visual inspection and hand your medication pouch/bag to the Security Officer.
• In order to prevent contamination or damage to medication and associated supplies and/or fragile medical materials, you will be asked at the security checkpoint to display, handle, and repack your own medication and associated supplies during the visual inspection process.
• Any medication and/or associated supplies that cannot be cleared visually must be submitted for X-ray screening. If you refuse, you will not be permitted to carry your medications and related supplies into the  sterile area.

Now that you know the rules for flying with your meds, go have a great vacation!  But don’t forget to keep your injectables at the proper temperature during travel!

Cimzia Drug Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Great news for rheumatoid arthritis patients!

UCB announced yesterday, May 14, 2009, that their Cimzia (certolizumab Pegol) drug was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis. 

According to UCB, “Cimzia® is available in an exclusively designed, patient-friendly, prefilled syringe resulting from the UCB partnership with OXO®. The new syringe carries the Arthritis Foundation(TM) Ease-of-Use Commendation.”

If Cimzia sounds familiar to you, it may be because the drug was already approved for the treatment of Crohn’s disease in April 2008.  This recent approval brings hope and another treatment option for patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.

See UCB’s press release for more information regarding the FDA approval.

As soon as the FDA approval announcement is released, it will be posted here for you.

TNF-Blocker Users At Risk For Fungal Infections

originally published on 9/5/08

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release on September 4, 2008 indicating manufacturers of TNF-Blockers need to highlight the risk of fungal infections for patients taking those TNF-blockers. 

According to the FDA, “Patients taking TNF blockers should be aware that they are more susceptible to serious fungal infections.”  Additionally, “health care professionals are not consistently recognizing cases of histoplasmosis and other invasive fungal infections, leading to delays in treatment.”  Some of these cases even resulted in death.

The medications involved are Humira, Enbrel, Remicade, and Cimzia.  They are commonly used to treat some forms of arthritis and Crohn’s disease.  If you are taking one of these biologic drugs, then check out the press release for further details.  It is a must read!