# Travelling with your pen > The NHS says medicines belong in hand luggage, in their original labelled packaging. TravelHealthPro adds a prescription copy, a prescriber’s letter and checks on destination rules. For Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic or Zepbound, the pen’s own leaflet or label sets its storage limits. Canonical: https://jabwise.app/guides/travelling-with-your-pen. Sources checked 20 October 2026. General information, not medical advice: follow your prescriber. Topics: [Injections & pens](https://jabwise.app/guides/topics/injections-and-pens), [Everyday life](https://jabwise.app/guides/topics/everyday-life) ## Before you travel TravelHealthPro’s medicines guidance covers preparation for a trip abroad, including these checks. - **Supply for the trip**: It recommends enough medicine for the whole trip, with allowance for delays or lost luggage, and a medical check-up before travel. - **The destination’s rules**: It directs travellers to the embassy, high commission or FCDO country advice for rules on importing or transporting medicines. - **Prescription and letter**: It recommends a prescription copy and a prescriber’s letter giving the medicines’ generic names, not only their brands. - **Arrangements with the airline**: For injectable medicines, it recommends contacting the airline before travel to make the arrangements needed for the flight. ## In your hand luggage - **Original packaging**: Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS guidance says medicines should stay in their original packaging, with your name on the label. - **A list of your medicines**: The same NHS guidance recommends carrying a list of the medicines you take and their doses with you when you travel. - **With you in the cabin**: The NHS guidance recommends carrying medicines in hand luggage when flying, still in their original labelled packaging. - **A doctor’s letter**: GOV.UK says a doctor’s letter is needed to explain your medicines and medical equipment, such as needles or syringes. ## At UK airport security GOV.UK allows essential liquid medicines, syringes and cooling gel packs in hand luggage. Its liquid rules are separate from its letter guidance. - **Liquid medicine over 100ml**: What GOV.UK says: Essential medicine is allowed. A container larger than 100ml needs proof of prescription, such as a doctor’s letter or prescription copy. - **Liquid medicine up to 100ml**: What GOV.UK says: This liquid-medicine rule does not require proof for a container of 100ml or less. Other paperwork requirements can still apply. - **Cooling packs**: What GOV.UK says: Cooling gel packs are listed as allowed. For ice packs in hand luggage, it says to contact the airport. ## Storage on the journey TravelHealthPro says to check storage needs for the journey. A cooling pack passing security does not confirm it meets your pen’s temperature limits. - **Before first use**: The UK Mounjaro KwikPen, Wegovy FlexTouch and Ozempic leaflets specify a fridge at 2 to 8°C before the pen is used. - **Each pen’s storage limits**: In-use limits differ by pen. Zepbound’s US label also gives separate limits for its single-dose pens and its KwikPen. - **A pen that has frozen**: The Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic leaflets and Zepbound’s label all say not to use the medicine if it has been frozen. - **The cooling element**: Wegovy and Ozempic say to keep pens away from the fridge’s cooling element. A pharmacist can help with storage questions. ## Questions ### Does passing UK security mean I can take my pen into any country? No. TravelHealthPro says countries have their own medicine restrictions and permissions. GOV.UK directs travellers to the destination’s embassy or high commission to check restrictions. ### What if the journey crosses time zones? Your prescriber or pharmacist can help plan injection timing for your journey. The medicine leaflets set rules for changing the injection day and missed doses; this guide does not turn those into a personal travel schedule. ### Can I skip a dose for a holiday? That is a question for your prescriber. Mounjaro’s leaflet says not to stop without talking to your doctor, and warns that blood sugar can rise if you have type 2 diabetes. ## In Jabwise: Supply Your next order, before you go. Set your next order date in Jabwise, with a reminder on the day or up to 14 days before. Your prescriber or pharmacist can help plan how much medicine you need for the trip. ## Getting real advice - **A pharmacist, your doctor or NHS 111**: If you’re not sure how to use your medicine, or a side effect bothers you or won’t go away. NHS 111 if you think you might be having serious side effects, or you’ve used too much. [NHS: Semaglutide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/semaglutide/), [NHS: Tirzepatide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tirzepatide/), [NHS 111 online](https://111.nhs.uk/) - **Report a side effect**: Anyone can, not only doctors. [Yellow Card (UK)](https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/), [MedWatch (US)](https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program) ## Sources - [Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS: Managing medicines, including travel](https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/medicines-and-how-to-manage-them) - [TravelHealthPro: Medicines and travel](https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheets/medicines-and-travel) - [GOV.UK: Medicines and medical equipment in hand luggage](https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/essential-medicines-and-medical-equipment) - [GOV.UK: Your rights at the airport](https://www.gov.uk/airport-rights) - [Mounjaro KwikPen patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15481/pil) - [Wegovy FlexTouch patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13800/pil) - [Ozempic patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9748/pil) - [Zepbound prescribing information](https://uspl.lilly.com/zepbound/zepbound.html)