Allergies and the Airplane

[sillyguys]

My DD has allergies and as a result, we have to travel everywhere with an epipen and other medications such as an inhaler. Does anyone know whether I can bring these items onto the plane in my carry on bag? Or do I have to check them at the gate like I would with other medications. We have to take the stuff on the plane in the unlikely event that she has an alleregic reaction. I'm sure that others have been in this situation and I'm wondering how other DIS'ers handled it. Thanks.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I do not htink you will have any problem. We bring a nebulizer with us in the carry on because we do not want it to get lost or damaged. We bring the nebulizer and all the meds that go with it which is 2 big boxes. They are pretty good about letting meds on. I can't imagine them not letting you carry her epipen. Don't worry about it.

ETC: My dh has immense sinus problems and he has to bring alot of meds with him as well and we carry them on too.

 

[mitushib]

yes you can get ur meds on the plane. They suggest u get just enough needed for ur trip. Also carry a prescription with u just incase the airline loses the rest of ur stuff.

 

[dianemb]

I carried mine in my carry on in December. I had checked with the airline and they told me it was OK. I also brought a perscription and a note from my physcian saying it was medically neccessary to carry them with me at all times. Since my epipen comes in a 2 pack I put one in my luggage also.

 

[laughinplace199]

You can bring epi-pens, inhalers, etc. on the plane. You might want to check out the TSA's website for info on how to pack them. I have to do this as well as we leave a week from today. My DD has peanut & treenut allergies and asthma, so we will be bringing all her meds with us.

I carried mine in my carry on in December. I had checked with the airline and they told me it was OK. I also brought a perscription and a note from my physcian saying it was medically neccessary to carry them with me at all times. Since my epipen comes in a 2 pack I put one in my luggage also.

I would be concerned about putting epi-pens in luggage due to the extreme temps your luggage might be exposed to in the cargo hold. I usually put a couple of epi-pens in my DD's carryon and a couple in mine so that we don't need to put any in the checked luggage.

 

[NotUrsula]

Can't overemphasize this enough: NEVER, NEVER put medications or small medical devices in checked baggage!!!! Always transport them in carryon bags. Meds are very often stolen from checked bags. If they disappear, even with a spare copy of the scrip, your insurance company is likely to give you grief if you try to refill them before you are due to do so. Don't chance it.
(And quantity does NOT matter; the "enough for the flight" suggestion is for baby foods, not meds.)

This is the TSA's page on medications, it outlines how you need to take meds through security: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm

 

[bibbity bobbity boo]

I got a note from DD's doctor for her Epi-pen. Im not sure if its actually needed or not, but better to be safe than sorry, ya know? I definetely wouldnt check the Epi-pens either due to the extreme temperature the luggage will probably be subjected to.

 

[ducklite]

My Epi-Pen has been in the bottom of my handbag every time I've flown. I don't ahve a doctors note--the prescription label is taped to the tube. I don't declare it, I don't put it in a seperate bag, and no one has ever blinked about it.

Anne

 

[dianemb]

My epi pen does not have a label on it so I bring the box it came in with me. They did not question it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Or do I have to check them at the gate like I would with other medications.

You don't have to check medications...

 

[amarberry]

Like others have said, I have carried on DD's epipen, inhaler, benadryl, nebulizer, and neb. med's several times. No problems ever. Most of the time. they just inspect the nebulizer, but they didn't even bother doing that the last time we traveled. Just make sure that you have the prescription labels for the prescription meds. I keep everything together in a ziploc bag.

We traveled last fall shortly after the liquid restriction was put in place. I was concerned about carrying on DD's benadryl since it was OTC. Her allergist wrote me a prescription for benadryl that the pharmacy filed and slapped a label on so I wouldn't have any problems. FYI, they also make benedryl strips now (they look like the listerine strips) that are very compact. We take those to the park rather than lug a bottle of benadryl with.

 

[Schmeck]

The benadryl strips are a great invention! DD15 is allergic to some strains of mold (found in locker rooms, etc), and has the benadryl strips in her sports bag - the way she tosses the bag around, a bottle, even a plastic one, would be cracked by the end of the day... The strips seem to work very quickly too!

To the OP - I believe you've gotten great advice here about epipens/inhalors - all I can add is that I hope you have a great trip and don't need to use the meds at all!

 

[ducklite]

My epi pen does not have a label on it so I bring the box it came in with me. They did not question it.

Have the pharmacist print out a second label and put it on the tube so you don't have to drag the box around.

Anne

 

[sillyguys]

Thanks for all the responses!

 

[monorailsilver]

I brought my son's epipen & benadryl (pre liquid limitations but post 9/11) & they didn't even look in the bag or ask me to take it out. I had a note & everything & the allergist said I wouldn't need it & he was right.

 

[Harvest02]

I searched for this thread about medicine because my DS10 has an allergy to bees. I know this thread is from April, so it is still OK to carry an epipen on the plane with me in case my DS needs it?

 

[laughinplace199]

I searched for this thread about medicine because my DS10 has an allergy to bees. I know this thread is from April, so it is still OK to carry an epipen on the plane with me in case my DS needs it?

Absolutely. My DD is allergic to peanuts, so we bring several Epi Pens on every flight we take.

 

[stephd219]

Have the pharmacist print out a second label and put it on the tube so you don't have to drag the box around.

Anne

This is such great advice. I never would have thought of this, but will have the pharmacy print out another label for my son's epi. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the great advice!

 

[alaska8]

Hello
I know this is an old thread but I wanted to post a reply for future reference. My son has a severe food allergy and I carry an epi pen for him. We fly a lot and I had the pharmacy put the label on to the epipen. I always take it out of my carryon when going thru security and place it in the tub with my "declared liquid zip lock bag". I also carry those idividual serving size benedryl allergy rather that carry the whole bottle which sometimes is too big for TSA and sometimes is accepted by TSA!
As a flight attendant I can tell you that we (my airline...not sure about others) carry an epipen in our onboard medical kits. However it does take sometime to access these kits (***** situation, call for medical personel, open kit etc etc) so thats why I always carry on my own epipen.
Never ever check medications......you never know what might happen....I have been diverted a number of times to airports where you cannot get off the aircraft due to immigration issues and therefore can be quite a while before you have access to your checked bags.
Hope this helps