How to travel while taking a GLP-1

Pre-vacation to-do lists are no joke. See if your swimsuit still fits? Check. Get mini sizes of all your toiletries? Check. Confirm you booked your hotel for the right nights? Check. But if you’re taking an injectable GLP-1, you also need to think about how you’re going to travel with your medication, when you should take your doses, and what to pack for side effects. Here’s what you need to know to help make traveling with a GLP-1 as low-stress as possible, from how to get it through airport security to ensuring you still get to eat all your favorite vacation foods while you’re away.

Checked bags get lost all the time, so to avoid you going to Hawaii and your medication landing in Alaska, you’ll want to have your meds with you in your carry-on. Even though most GLP-1s are in a liquid format, TSA shouldn’t give you a hard time since vials and pens are clearly marked medication. Just let them know you have a syringe in your bag before it goes through the X-ray machine. If you’re nervous, you can always ask your doctor to give you a form letter to have on hand. 

Another reason to keep your medication nearby? Injectable GLP-1s are typically fine without refrigeration for up to three weeks (or longer), but you still don’t want to submit them to extreme temperatures — like the freezing cold of an airplane cargo hold or the intense heat of a car trunk — since such temps can degrade the active ingredient. 

“If you can, carry it in a little ice box or cooler. Once you reach your destination, make sure you’re putting it right into a refrigerator,” says Dr. Sonal Mittal, M.D., a Weight Watchers Med+ dual board-certified internal and obesity medicine physician. Once your GLP-1 is out of the fridge and the “cold chain” is broken, the stabilizers in the formulation should keep it safe for a few weeks, but it's always safer in a controlled temperature environment like the fridge.

The new oral GLP-1 medications, like Wegovy Pill and Foundayo (orforglipron), do not require refrigeration, says Dr. Alexander Nathanson, M.D. a board-certified obesity medicine physician in New York. “So that may be something to consider when choosing which medication you want to be on,” he says, particularly if you travel a lot and find that regular refrigeration is challenging.

What if you’re travelling on your shot day and don’t want to deal with carting your injection kit around? Or, worse, you’re travelling the day of the week you get the roughest side effects? It’s okay to push it, says Mittal. If you want to change the timing of your dose for any reason, try to push it later rather than move it up earlier. This can help you avoid side effects that occur when taking doses too close together. 

“As long as there is a gap of at least 48 hours between two doses, it will not cause a big problem,” says Mittal. You can start right back up the day you return, or wait to sync up with your old dose day, provided it hasn't been too long since your last injection.  If you have any specific questions or concerns, you should speak with your clinician on how to adjust your dose.

Say you get some variety of GLP-1 side effects with every dose and you’d rather not deal with even a hint of nausea on vacation. Or maybe you want to indulge more than usual because it’s not every day you get to eat gelato on the Ponte Vecchia. Is it ever possible to just skip a week of your GLP-1? 

“I don't usually recommend doing that for a couple of reasons,” says Nathanson. “If you take a prolonged break without the medication, there can be some side effects when you restart. You may get more nausea, more unpleasant gastrointestinal issues.” 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. “If the gap between doses is less than two weeks, you can resume the same dose,” says Mittal. If the gap between doses is greater than two weeks, though, you may need to start back at a lower dose to minimize side effects. Before you skip a dose, just discuss with your clinician; they can help you make the most informed decision based on your personal experiences and goals.

Vacation often means eating differently — and this is part of the fun of traveling. But both Mittal and Nathanson say that your GLP-1 diet should be the same, whether you’re on a Caribbean cruiseliner or on your couch. Avoid foods that are excessively greasy and high in fat, and stop eating when you’re full. Otherwise, you could be served a side of nausea and bloating. 

Alcohol should also be consumed with caution, as it can contribute to dehydration and constipation. Sipping on an aperol spritz? Pair it with a tall glass of water. “When you’re consuming alcohol, you actually need to drink more water than you usually do,” says Mittal. 

Just don’t let your GLP-1 keep you from experiencing the moment. “Please eat the things you like,” says Nathanson. “[Your GLP-1] allows you to stay in moderation, where you can actually enjoy the foods you want to eat. You’re just satisfied with smaller portions.” The Weight Watchers GLP-1 Success Program can help you make the most of every bite by guiding you towards the nutrient-rich foods that will help you feel your best while reaching your goals, no matter where you are in the world.

Just because you’re away from home doesn’t mean you can forget about the potential for GLP-1 side effects. This is especially true for constipation, which can happen to anyone on vacation, when “it’s hard to meet water and fiber goals,” says Mittal. The combo of traveling and taking a GLP-1 can back you up even more. The most effective way to combat it?  Hydrate constantly. Carry a water bottle around with you and fill it up when you stop at restaurants to eat, aiming for a minimum of 48 oz. of water per day, and even more if you’re in a warm climate or being active, says Mittal. 

It’s also good to have a plan in case water alone doesn’t do the trick. Talk to your doctor first, but you could try a stool softener or fiber supplements, and you may even consider starting the fiber a few days before you leave if you’re worried about vacation constipation. 

If your GI issues tend the other way, avoiding greasy and oily food will be especially important, as these foods can sometimes trigger diarrhea. And of course, make sure you’re replacing that lost hydration with plenty of water. Pack some anti-diarrheal, such as loperamide, and gas-relieving medications, like simethicone, in your dopp kit just to be safe.

If you’re traveling while on a GLP-1, the goal is — first and foremost — to enjoy your vacation. Building in a few safety nets will help make the time away even more satisfying. Make sure your injectable medication stays safe in transit by avoiding extreme temperatures, and putting it back into refrigeration when you arrive. You can also adjust the timing of your dose while you’re away if that helps you get around side effects. Plan to eat like you do at home, avoiding high fat or greasy foods. If you must (and you’ve discussed it with your clinician), you can even skip a week of your GLP-1. Just be careful about increased side effects after starting back up.