Your ultimate guide to travelling with fat jabs – from costly mistakes to nasty side effects & rules to avoid disaster
But when travelling you can't throw them in your bag like a pack of paracetamol. They require a certain amount of forethought and planning, otherwise you risk grappling with nasty side effects while on holiday or even rendering the drugs ineffective.
A major issue is that weight loss jabs often need to be kept cool, which can prove a headache while you're travelling as well as when you reach sunnier shores.
Kenny Chan, lead information services pharmacist at Numark tells Sun Health: "Travelling with medications that require refrigeration, such as certain weight management drugs, can cause challenges.
"Ensuring these medications are stored correctly is crucial for maintaining their efficacy and safety."
Not storing your weight loss jabs the right way could have major implications, warns Dr Sue Kenneally, weight management specialist at Boots Online Doctor.
She tells Sun Health: "If a medication needs to be stored in the fridge between 2–8°C, it is important that it is stored correctly.
"If they're exposed to heat, freezing temperatures or large temperature swings, the active ingredients can degrade.
"This may reduce how well the medication works or, in some cases, make it unsafe to use.
"Even short periods outside the recommended range can have an impact, which is why correct storage is so important.
"If the medication hasn't been stored properly, it may not provide the intended effect.
"In the case of weight loss medication, this could hinder your weight loss efforts.
Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons
"This can be frustrating if individuals have benefited from the treatment, which is why it is important to follow storage guidance carefully."
Aside from throwing a spanner in the weight loss works, leaving your skinny jabs out of the fridge could leave you grappling with nasty surprises.
"Using treatment that's potentially been affected by incorrect storage could also increase the risk of side effects," Dr Kenneally says.
Side effects will be listed in the information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
For weight loss jabs, these can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation - not exactly what you want to be dealing with on holiday.
"If you know your medicine hasn't been stored correctly, it's best not to take any chances and speak to a healthcare professional for advice," the GP suggests.
But aside from packing your meds safely and finding a spot to store them on holiday, you may also need to declare them to your airline and health insurance provider and bring documentation with you.
Read on for your essential holiday weight loss jab checklist.
BEFORE TAKEOFF
IF you're on weight loss jabs, travel prep involves a bit more than booking flights and hotels, so don't leave it to the last minute.
1. Check restrictions
IF you're going abroad for more than a week, it's a good idea to check whether your jab of choice - be it Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro - has been approved in your travel destination.
Not every country in the world has approved the same weight loss drugs as the UK has, and airport officials may have questions about any medication they find.
The Association of British Travel Agents told ITV News it is always advisable to consult Foreign Office travel advice to see if there are any restrictions in place when taking medications into the country you are visiting.
2. Get documentation
YOU might also want to bring proof you were prescribed the jabs too.
"You should carry the prescription from your doctor, just in case you are questioned about the medication," Kenny suggests.
Dr Babak Ashrafi, a GP at Superdrug Online Doctor, echoes this advice: 'If you're travelling abroad, make sure to check the regulations regarding bringing prescription medication into the country.
"Some destinations may require additional documentation, such as a doctor's note or prescription.
"Always carry your weight loss pens in their original packaging, which should clearly state your name and dosage.'
3. Declare your meds
TRAVEL Health Pro recommends you contact your airline in advance to make appropriate arrangements if you need to travel with injectable medicines.
You should also tell your health insurance provider you're on the jabs.
Simon McCulloch from Staysure says: "Tell your travel insurer about the medication.
"Just like with any other prescription drug, it needs to be declared as part of your medical screening when you buy travel insurance.
"If you leave it off, you're risking any related claims being rejected."
4. Plan your doses
TAKE stock of how long you'll be away and how many doses you'll need during that time.
Weight loss jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro tend to be taken on a weekly basis, but a jab like Saxenda needs to be injected daily.
You may want to include extra doses, in case you're subject to unexpected travel delays or accidentally misplace your meds.
IN TRANSIT
FINALLY it's time to set off on your hols - here's what you need to know about bringing your jabs to the airport.
1. Hold or carry-on?
NOT sure whether to pack your meds or bring them with you in your hand luggage?
"Check your airline's policies," Kenny advises.
"Most airlines allow medications in both hand luggage and checked baggage, but it is advisable to keep them in your carry-on to avoid extreme temperatures in the cargo hold.
"Ensure the medication is easily accessible for security checks. Most airlines have fridges, check if the medicines can be kept in the fridge."
2. Cool it down
THEN comes the question of how to keep your meds cool.
It's a good idea to invest in a travel-friendly cool bag.
"Travel bags with cool sections with ice packs can help keep products cool," Kenny says.
"This may be enough for short flights to keep the product at a low temperature."
But remember to check with your airline that you're alright to travel with a cooler containing medical products.
Dr Kenneally adds: 'Different medication can have different storage instructions, so it is important that you read the information leaflet that is provided with the medication and follow the storage instructions at all times, including when travelling.'
3. Security checks
GOING through security is often the most stressful part of travel - especially if you're travelling with medicines and liquids.
When you get to security checks, let agents know what you're packing.
Kenny says: "Inform security personnel that you are carrying medication that requires refrigeration.
"Regulations typically allow for exceptions regarding liquid limits for medical purposes."
ON HOLIDAY
NOW you've made it to your holiday destination, you can start to relax!
But don't forget to store your jabs as specified on the packaging - and it's a good idea to set reminders for dosage too.
1. Refrigerate - but beware of hotel fridges
NOT every weight loss jab needs to be kept in the fridge for the duration of your holiday.
Mounjaro can be kept for up to 30 days outside of the fridge once opened but should not sit in temperatures higher than 30°C.
But you still need to make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight or heat.
As for Wegovy, this needs to be stored below 30°C, preferably, in a fridge with a temperature of 2°C to 8°C.
Jason Murphy, head of pharmacy at Chemist4U, warns: 'If you're staying in a hotel, the mini-bars in rooms are often more mildly cool than medically safe.
"Contact the hotel in advance and ask to store your medication in a staff fridge.'
While it's important to keep the pens cool, make sure not to freeze them.
Check that your fridge doesn't get any colder towards the back.
2. Set dosage reminders
NORMAL routines usually go out of the window on holiday, and this can throw your dosage schedule out of whack.
'When travelling, it can be easy to lose track of time or forget when you need to take your dose," Jason suggests.
"Set a reminder on your phone or make a note in your travel itinerary to ensure you're staying on track with your medication.'
3. Dispose of needles
'WHEN travelling you'll also need to bring a safe way to dispose of used needles," Jason goes on.
"Many travel-sized sharps disposal containers are available. Make sure to have one on hand to safely dispose of used pens or needles.
"This is especially important for your health and hygiene, as well as for adhering to travel regulations regarding sharp objects.
"Never dispose of needles in regular bins.'
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.'
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
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