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Is it safe to pause Arikayce treatment for a few months of travel?

Posted by ranxi @ranxi, Mar 8 12:22pm

I have been on inhaled Arikayce treatment for my MAC for almost 2 years (in addition to Azithromycin and Ethambutol). I need to make a trip back to China for a few months (2-3). I can only bring 1 month of Arikayce with me. Will my MAC get worse if I pause for a month or 2?

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carolinediehl | @carolinediehl | Mar 8 4:58pm

Are you covered by a health plan with pharmacy benefits? If so, have you reached out to your pharmacy provider or to your customer service at your insurance (usually found on back of card). Tell them what is going on. They may be able to get you extended number of refills. Or possibly if you can use mail refills they can be sent to a different address. You shouldn't have to stop just because you are traveling.

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1 reply
ranxi | @ranxi | Mar 8 5:44pm
In reply to @carolinediehl "Are you covered by a health plan with pharmacy benefits? If so, have you reached out..." + (show)
@carolinediehl

Are you covered by a health plan with pharmacy benefits? If so, have you reached out to your pharmacy provider or to your customer service at your insurance (usually found on back of card). Tell them what is going on. They may be able to get you extended number of refills. Or possibly if you can use mail refills they can be sent to a different address. You shouldn't have to stop just because you are traveling.

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Unfortunately, this is a bit more complicated.

1) I'm traveling to China
2) The Specialty Pharmacy (Maxor) does not have ability to ship there. I get shipment each month.
3) the product (4 weeks supply - 28 vials) must be shipped with ice packs and be refrigerated except for the current weeks supply that needs to be a room temp.

I can probably bring the one month supply with me with travel ice packs and refrigerated after arrival.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Mar 8 10:18pm
In reply to @ranxi "Unfortunately, this is a bit more complicated. 1) I'm traveling to China 2) The Specialty Pharmacy..." + (show)
@ranxi

Unfortunately, this is a bit more complicated.

1) I'm traveling to China
2) The Specialty Pharmacy (Maxor) does not have ability to ship there. I get shipment each month.
3) the product (4 weeks supply - 28 vials) must be shipped with ice packs and be refrigerated except for the current weeks supply that needs to be a room temp.

I can probably bring the one month supply with me with travel ice packs and refrigerated after arrival.

Jump to this post

First I would ask my doctor this question. If they feel it is too much of a risk to your health to pause, then I would would work with the pharmacy and insurance to take an adequate supply for the trip.
We routinely transport 3-4 months of refrigerated meds on ice when we travel, the ice packs last over 48 hours to keep them safe.
Another idea might be to see whether you can take half as many doses while on your trip to maintain if space and weight are the issue.

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mariegrace | @mariegrace | Mar 9 8:40am

Speak to your physicians for clarification

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