Can you take Mounjaro or Wegovy pens on holiday abroad?
UK airport rules, keeping pens cool, the paperwork to carry, time zones and missed doses, and the risk of fake pens abroad.
Written for the United Kingdom. Other country versions are coming.
Yes. GOV.UK allows syringes, essential medicines and cooling gel packs in hand luggage at UK airports. Lilly says not to put Mounjaro pens in the hold, which can get too hot or too cold. Pens must never freeze; once in use, the UK labels allow up to 30°C for a set time.
Key takeaways
- GOV.UK says hypodermic syringes, essential medicines and cooling gel packs are all allowed in hand luggage at UK airports.1
- Lilly’s UK medical service says Mounjaro pens should not go in checked luggage, because the hold may be too hot or too cold.2
- Once in use, the UK label allows a Mounjaro KwikPen up to 30 days unrefrigerated at no more than 30°C; a Wegovy FlexTouch lasts 6 weeks below 30°C.3,4
- The UK travel health service advises carrying the original pharmacy packaging, a copy of the prescription and a prescriber letter, on headed paper for injections.5
- The UK labels let you take a missed Mounjaro dose within 4 days and a missed Wegovy or Ozempic dose within 5 days.3,4,6
On this page
Can you take Mounjaro or Wegovy pens in hand luggage?
Yes. GOV.UK says hypodermic syringes, essential medicines and cooling gel packs are all allowed in hand luggage at UK airports. Security staff may open them to check.1
- GLP‑1 medicines are prescription-only in the UK. On the NHS or privately, a healthcare professional has to assess you before a prescription is issued.7
- The label facts here come from the UK product information (the SmPC, the official label each maker publishes on the electronic Medicines Compendium). Where we use a US or EU label instead, we say so.
- Rules at your destination, and on the way home, can differ from UK rules. Check with the airline and the airports before you go.1,5
- Every risk of these medicines is in Guide 5: Side effects and risks.
- This post describes labels, guidance and trials. It is not a plan for your treatment, and no dose or brand guarantees any result.
- Pens and needles: GOV.UK lists hypodermic syringes as allowed in both hand and hold luggage.1
- The 100 ml rule: essential medicines over 100 ml are allowed, and you need proof of prescription only for liquids in containers over 100 ml.1 A Mounjaro KwikPen holds 2.4 ml, and a Wegovy FlexTouch 1.5 or 3 ml.3,4
- Keeping cool: cooling gel packs are allowed in hand luggage. For ice packs, GOV.UK says to contact the airport.1
Wegovy tablets need no special temperature, only their original blister pack.8 Our post on weight-loss pills covers them.
Should pens ever go in the hold?
Lilly says no for Mounjaro: keep the pens with you, because the hold can be too hot or too cold. Diabetes UK gives the same advice for diabetes medicines.2,9
Lilly's UK medical information service says patients "should not store their medicine in checked luggage".2 It says airport X-rays are not known to affect tirzepatide.2 Diabetes UK warns that the hold "is so cold" and that bags can be lost.9
The UK travel health service suggests packing some extra medicine in the hold in case hand luggage goes missing.5 For pens, which must not freeze, the maker's advice is the stricter one. Diabetes UK suggests splitting medicines between your own and a travel companion's hand luggage.9
How do you keep pens cool on holiday?
Unused pens belong in a fridge at 2 to 8°C and must never freeze. Once in use, the UK labels allow up to 30°C for a set time.3,4
| Pen | Before first use | Once in use |
|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro KwikPen | Fridge, 2 to 8°C; do not freeze3 | Up to 30 days unrefrigerated, not above 30°C3 |
| Wegovy FlexTouch | Fridge, 2 to 8°C; do not freeze4 | 6 weeks, below 30°C or preferably in a fridge4 |
| Wegovy 7.2 mg single-dose pen | Fridge, 2 to 8°C; do not freeze10 | May be kept out of the fridge up to 28 days, not above 30°C10 |
| Ozempic (4-dose pens) | Fridge, 2 to 8°C; do not freeze6 | 6 weeks, below 30°C or in a fridge6 |
| Saxenda | Fridge, 2 to 8°C; do not freeze11 | 1 month, below 30°C or in a fridge11 |
UK labels (SmPCs), sections 6.3 and 6.4, checked 12 Oct 2026. Keep pen caps on to protect from light.
Cool bags. Lilly does not recommend any cooler. If you use one, it says the pen must not touch ice, frozen gel packs or freezing temperatures.2 A pen that has been frozen must not be used.4
Hot places. The in-use limit on the UK labels is 30°C.3,4 The NHS says dehydration happens more easily in the sun or heat, and after being sick or having diarrhoea.12 Those are also common side effects of these medicines.3
What paperwork should you carry?
The UK travel health service advises the original pharmacy packaging, a copy of the prescription, and a letter from the prescriber. It says injected medicines need a letter on headed paper.5
- Check the destination's rules. Some countries restrict certain medicines or need permission first. Check with the country's embassy or high commission, or the FCDO travel advice.5 Lilly also says to check with the embassy.2
- A letter with the generic name. The letter should give the medicine's generic name, such as tirzepatide or semaglutide. It helps at border checks and if you need a replacement.5
- Enough for delays. Take enough for the whole trip plus possible delays or lost luggage.5
- Controlled drugs. Some medicines need an export licence for 3 months' supply or more. The service's examples include codeine, diazepam and morphine.5
The service says the NHS supplies regular medicines for temporary stays abroad of up to 3 months.5 Diabetes UK notes the EHIC and GHIC cards do not cover everything, such as bringing you home.9
Build a printable list for your prescriber: letter, supplies, dose timing and time zones. No sign-up.
What about time zones and missed doses?
The weekly dose has some slack. The UK labels let you take a missed Mounjaro dose within 4 days, or a Wegovy or Ozempic dose within 5 days.3,4,6
- Changing the day: the UK Mounjaro and Ozempic labels allow a new weekly day if at least 3 days pass between two doses.3,6
- Too late: after 4 days (Mounjaro) or 5 days (Wegovy, Ozempic), skip the dose and take the next one on your usual day.3,4
- Daily Saxenda: a dose missed by more than 12 hours is skipped, not doubled.11
Diabetes UK covers crossing time zones with other diabetes medicines.9 If you plan a longer break from your jab, see what happens when you stop.
What if you run out of pens abroad?
Getting supplies abroad carries risk. The UK travel health service warns that fake medicines are more common in some regions, and that medicines abroad can look the same but differ inside.5
It cites a 2017 WHO estimate that 1 in 10 medicines in low- and middle-income countries failed quality tests.5 The MHRA warns of fake pens that "closely mimic" the real ones, and of vials of powder, which are not authorised in the UK.7
The service suggests getting all the medicine you need before you travel.5 Spotting fakes is covered in fake Mounjaro and illegal jabs.
- Stomach effects are very common (more than 1 in 10) on the UK Mounjaro and Wegovy labels, and add to dehydration in the heat.3,4,12
- Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea can harm the kidneys.3
- Pancreatitis is uncommon (1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000); the sign is severe stomach pain that won’t go away.3,13
- Hypos are more likely with insulin or a sulfonylurea.3
- A pen that has been frozen should not be used, the UK labels say.3,4
Questions people ask
Can I take my Mounjaro pen on a plane?
Yes. GOV.UK allows syringes and essential medicines in hand luggage at UK airports.1 Lilly says to keep the pens with you, not in checked luggage.2
Do I need a letter from my doctor to fly with Mounjaro?
GOV.UK asks for proof only for liquids in containers over 100 ml, and a pen holds far less.1,3 The UK travel health service still advises a prescriber letter on headed paper for injected medicines.5
How long can Mounjaro be out of the fridge on holiday?
Once in use, up to 30 days at no more than 30°C, says the UK label. Unused pens should be kept in a fridge.3
Can I take ice packs for my pens through security?
GOV.UK allows cooling gel packs in hand luggage; for ice packs it says to contact the airport.1 Lilly says the pen must not touch ice or frozen gel packs.2
What if I miss my injection while travelling?
The UK Mounjaro label says take it within 4 days, otherwise skip it. For Wegovy and Ozempic the limit is 5 days.3,4,6
Shorter answers: How long can Mounjaro stay out of the fridge? and How do I dispose of used pens and needles?
How we researched this
On 12 Oct 2026 we read GOV.UK’s hand luggage rules and the TravelHealthPro medicines factsheet, where the NHS medicines-abroad page now redirects. We also read Lilly’s UK travel answer for Mounjaro, Diabetes UK’s travel page, and the storage sections of the UK labels.
We found no Novo Nordisk UK travel page for Wegovy, so Wegovy storage comes from its UK label. We left out other countries’ entry rules: they change, and the embassy is the source. We name no cool-bag brand or seller.
Before you move on
- Pens, needles and cooling gel packs are allowed in UK hand luggage.
- Keep pens with you, not in the hold, and never let them freeze.
- Carry the original packs, a prescription copy and a prescriber letter.
- Check your destination’s rules with its embassy before you go.
More from the UK blog
The monthly UK update
An independent guide to GLP‑1 medicines. We don't sell medicines, take drug-company money or earn clinic commissions. Once a month: NHS access changes, approvals, safety notices and recalls. How we write
Sources
- GOV.UK. Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports: liquids, and medicines, medical equipment and dietary requirements. Opened 12 October 2026. Medicines · Liquids
- Lilly Medical (UK). How should patients store the Mounjaro (tirzepatide) KwikPen during transport and travel? Medical information answer for UK healthcare professionals, MI-LM-UK-1022, September 2026. medical.lilly.com
- Eli Lilly. Mounjaro KwikPen (tirzepatide): UK summary of product characteristics (SmPC, the UK label), date of revision 29 August 2026. Sections 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.8, 5.2, 6.4. emc
- Novo Nordisk. Wegovy FlexTouch (semaglutide) pens: UK summary of product characteristics (SmPC), date of revision 09/2026. Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.8, 5.1, 5.2, 6.3, 6.4. emc
- TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre, NaTHNaC). Medicines and travel: carrying medication abroad and advice regarding falsified medication. Factsheet; the NHS “Can I take my medicine abroad?” page redirects here. Opened 12 October 2026. travelhealthpro.org.uk
- Novo Nordisk. Ozempic (semaglutide) pens: UK SmPC, date of revision 07/2026. Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 5.1, 5.2. emc
- MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency). GLP‑1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes: what you need to know. First published 5 June 2025, updated 5 February 2026. gov.uk
- Novo Nordisk. Wegovy tablets (oral semaglutide): UK SmPC, first authorised 11 June 2026, date of revision 06/2026. Sections 4.2, 4.6. emc
- Diabetes UK. Travelling with diabetes. Content last reviewed 11 April 2025. diabetes.org.uk
- Novo Nordisk. Wegovy 7.2 mg single-dose pre-filled pen (semaglutide): UK SmPC, first authorised 13 April 2026, date of revision 09/2026. Sections 2, 4.1, 4.2, 6.3, 6.4. emc
- Novo Nordisk. Saxenda (liraglutide) 6 mg/ml pen: UK SmPC, date of revision 11/2025. Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 5.1, 5.2, 6.3, 6.4. emc
- NHS. Dehydration. Opened 12 October 2026. nhs.uk
- MHRA. Drug Safety Update: GLP‑1 receptor agonists and dual GLP‑1/GIP receptor agonists: strengthened warnings on acute pancreatitis, including necrotising and fatal cases. Volume 19, issue 6, 29 January 2026. gov.uk
- NHS. When to call 999. Page last reviewed 3 February 2023. nhs.uk
- NHS. When to use NHS 111 online or call 111. Opened 12 October 2026. nhs.uk
- nidirect (Northern Ireland government). GP out of hours service. Opened 12 October 2026. nidirect.gov.uk
Last checked 12 Oct 2026 · Next review due 12 Oct 2027 · Report an error
How this post was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above. It's general information, not medical advice. Talk to a qualified doctor, nurse or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write