Hi, does anyone have an answer as to how to ship Humira properly/safely internationally. I have not been able to get a way to do this under the restrictive temperature requirements for Humira. Even Abvie/Abbott don't have a method to guaranty delivery properly. Has anyone seeing this post done it or know who has? Can't use dry ice! Needs to be between 35-45 degrees until used. Major shippers( UPS,FEDEX,etc.) do not ship this ! Any help or insight is appreciated. Thanks, docjimbo
HUMIRA shipping ?!
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Hi t-bone, Thanks for your response. Located in Massachusetts. Need to get it to Italy!!! I can only take a limited amount with me on my trip there. Staying for one year so I need to get the remaining meds shipped from states appropriately.( minimal time and correct temp). As I said previously, major carriers are not any help! How do others get the meds there?? I can't be the only one who is taking Humira and has to travel internationally!!?? Yet I haven't seen any answer to this dilemma.
In my work we sometimes ship frozen stuff to Italy and keep it frozen by loading the shipment up with dry ice. Humira is going to be trickier because you don't want to freeze it. You want cold packs not dry ice. We use Federal Express, and it usually gets delivered to the destination within a few days or up to a week, depending on whether it gets stuck in Italian customs. I'm not sure what you mean that FedEx won't ship it. They won't ship cold packs? They will certainly ship stuff frozen on dry ice.
Unfortunately, Italian customs is rather variable. Sometimes our shipments sail right through and sometimes not so much.
Another thing to think about is getting it prescribed for you in Italy. It might be possible for your GI to make contact with a colleague in Italy and get you set up. What city will you be in?
Unfortunately, Italian customs is rather variable. Sometimes our shipments sail right through and sometimes not so much.
Another thing to think about is getting it prescribed for you in Italy. It might be possible for your GI to make contact with a colleague in Italy and get you set up. What city will you be in?
Hi Scipio, Yes Fedex will ship but as you said dry ice is a no-no!! Also, they will ship cold packs that my family can pack and label etc. but the concern is what you alluded to with it being tied up too long and the ice packs will not hold up i.e. customs or other delay. That will create a possibility of the meds spoiling! I thought there might be an "overnight" type shipping company that someone may be aware of that could expedite customs etc. We tried the Dr. colleague approach but no luck. Also, I was told by Abvie that they don't have their product, Humira, available in Italy. Therefore, new Dr. Rx there is not feasible??!! I will be in Pavia. Any other thoughts? Thanks for your help
I know that FedEx will "recharge" the dry ice (i.e. open the box and add more) if a package is sitting too long in customs in a foreign country. Perhaps they will also do this for refrigerated items - keep the box in refrigerated storage and and replace the blue ice if necessary when the box finally clears customs? I don't know. But there must be a way. Refrigerated (not frozen) perishable items get shipped to Europe every day.
Also, take a look at World Courier. We have used them in the past too. Although we currently prefer FedEx.
Also, take a look at World Courier. We have used them in the past too. Although we currently prefer FedEx.
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Thing to think about
Humira is good for 14 days once it reaches room temp
So depending on when you need to use it
And shipping time
have you reached out to your specialty pharmacy in the US?
They may have ideas as well since they ship across the US cold
Humira is good for 14 days once it reaches room temp
So depending on when you need to use it
And shipping time
have you reached out to your specialty pharmacy in the US?
They may have ideas as well since they ship across the US cold
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crohnsinct
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You might want to also check out the luggage shipping services. There is one that is known to be good and fast internationally. You could have a family member pack it is a cooler bag and call that your luggage. We had to ship my daughter's Humira across the country once. We insured the shipment and that cost was a killer but better than having to buy the Humira again! But across the country is a lot different than clearing customs. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
FYI: according to FedEx they can't ship Humira to Italy because it is not recognized as an approved medication in there country. So it seems that the only way to get it in is on your person with a Rx and doctor note when you go through customs. A real frustrating dilemma.
crohnsinct
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My daughter traveled with her Humira often as she goes to college across the country BUT this only works if it is short term travel as pharmacies won't dispense more than 2 pens at a time.
crohnsinct
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The only caveat I can think of is sometimes when a person has a severe case of IBD they need to take time off for hospital admits, surgeries, or just plain not being able to keep up a grueling schedule. My oldest struggled with this terribly. She did everything and anything in her power, including not prioritizing her health because she wanted to keep up her study schedule etc. She did have to take a summer semester off and had join the next cohort and then when she eventually had her ostomy surgery she only missed 2 weeks of school and was able to stay with her new cohort. It is so hard to get the kids to see that they have their whole life to work and it isn't a race.
Ironically, her surgeon said he was the same and eventually his body decided for him and while in med school he had to have a colectomy and ended up taking a year off but that school was still there waiting for him.
Moral of the story is it might take longer but it is still a goal he can absolutely reach and a career he can have.
Ironically, her surgeon said he was the same and eventually his body decided for him and while in med school he had to have a colectomy and ended up taking a year off but that school was still there waiting for him.
Moral of the story is it might take longer but it is still a goal he can absolutely reach and a career he can have.
That's just nonsense. I know an Italian GI, a professor at the medical school in Padua, and he says Humira has been available in Italy for years and is currently routinely used to treat IBD there.
Here's an example from 2018 of Italian Humira patients complaining to the government that they don't want to be forced to switch from Humira to biosimilars:
https://www.apmhealtheurope.com/fre...ut-regional-procurement-of-humira-biosimilars
I think FedEx is just telling a lie to make you go away. There is probably extra paperwork involved and they don't want to be bothered with it.
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Thanks Scipio. I have researched that further myself and you are correct! FedEx issue, I think, is because the medicine will only ship internationally through a pharmaceutical/medical company with the proper credentials. Regardless, they aren't shipping it! I was told by Abbvie today that yes Humira is available in Italy but you need to see a hospital based physician in Italy who is qualified to deal with biologicals. Then that physician can write a Rx and any local pharmacy can usually fill it for you. Unfortunately, they don't have any info on where or who in Italy are qualified physicians. You have to search that out when you get there unless it is somehow available online (which I will try to determine). Without imposing on you or the professor, do you think by chance, he knows of any physicians who qualify in Pavia/Milan or anywhere? Thanks again for your consideration.
I bet he knows some. I bet he knows pretty much every IBD specialist in all of Italy, or at least all of northern Italy. I'll ask him.
Encouraging news! Since I last posted I also got some good news from my pharmacy/insurance company. They have approved an extra supply of Humira that I can take with me on the trip over. It should help me be under less immediate pressure to secure the meds. Now I will be able to have some lead time to possibly see a doctor in Italy and maybe reach out to one of your friends contacts if necessary. Thank you for being such a wonderful advocate and for the help you are affording me.
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hi wuld love to know how the issue was resolved. how much supply did the insurance approved and how did you travel with it on the plane? I have aprox the same distance as docjimbo had. Flying to Czech republic.I alos looked some portable medicne fridge, but the syringes of Humira are little bulky on one side and not sure if I can remove them from the foil they are sealed.
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I sent you message, I know this is old post and not sure if this member is still active here,
