How to store Wegovy while you travel
The Wegovy injection is kept in the fridge, between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, before you start using a pen.3
Once it is out of the fridge, a pen can be kept below 30 degrees Celsius for up to 28 days.3 If you are away for longer than that, plan how you will keep it cool.
Keep Wegovy in its original carton. The packaging protects the medication from light, which can affect it.3
A cool bag helps on warm trips, but don’t let the pens sit against an ice pack. Freezing damages the medication, so a frozen pen shouldn’t be used.3
The Wegovy pill is different: it requires no refrigeration and has nothing to keep cool.
Keep the tablets in their original blister packaging, away from moisture, and below 30 degrees Celsius.
Flying with Wegovy
Pack the Wegovy injection in your hand luggage, not the hold. The hold is not temperature-controlled and can get cold enough to freeze the pens.3
The usual liquid limits don’t apply to prescription medication, so you can carry the pens you need for your trip.
Bring the pen needles and alcohol wipes too, and keep them with the medication in its original packaging alongside your prescription or a copy of it.5
Tell security staff that you are carrying medication with needles when you reach screening, and have your documents ready in case they ask.
If you will need to throw away used needles while you are away, pack a small travel sharps bin, and ask your hotel or a local pharmacy about safe disposal.
The Wegovy pill involves none of these steps. You can carry it like any other tablet.
Do you need a letter to travel with Wegovy?
For most trips, you should carry proof that the medication is yours.
A copy of your prescription, or a short letter from your prescriber, is usually enough.4,5
Keep Wegovy in its original pharmacy packaging with the label attached, so the name and dose are clear.5
You can take up to three months’ supply of your own medication out of the UK. For longer trips, speak to your prescriber before you go.4
Semaglutide isn’t a controlled drug in the UK, so the stricter rules that apply to those medicines don’t apply here.4
Some countries have their own restrictions, and a few ask for a doctor’s letter confirming what the medication is and why you take it. Australia is one example.5
Check the rules for your destination with its embassy before you travel, particularly for long-haul trips.5
Ask your prescribing pharmacist if you have any questions about travelling with your specific treatment.
Can you skip a week of Wegovy?
You don’t need to pause Wegovy while you’re travelling. It’s meant to be taken once a week without a break, and a trip is no reason to stop.
If a dose does end up late because a travel day gets in the way, there’s a simple rule for catching up.
If your next weekly dose is more than two days away, take the late dose as soon as you remember.
If it’s less than two days away, leave it and take your next dose on the usual day.
Never take two doses close together to make up for one you’ve missed.
Semaglutide stays active in the body for about a week, and it takes four to five weeks of weekly doses to build up to a steady level. So one late or missed injection is unlikely to undo your progress.
Missing several doses in a row is different, because appetite and food noise tend to return, which can make the trip harder to manage.
If you’ve missed two or more weeks, ask your prescriber how to restart.
The Wegovy pill is simpler. If you miss a day, leave that dose and take the next one at your usual time the following morning.
Taking Wegovy across time zones
Try to take the weekly injection on the same day and around the same time as you would at home.
A few hours either way makes little difference with a weekly medication.
If you are crossing several time zones, pick whichever local time keeps you closest to your usual routine, and keep the same injection day each week.
For the Wegovy pill, you should continue to follow the same daily dosing guidelines.
Take it in the morning on an empty stomach, with no more than a small glass of plain water, and wait about 30 minutes before you eat, drink anything else, or take other tablets.
Staying on track while you travel
A holiday breaks your usual routine, and a few days of different meals won’t undo your progress.
You don’t need to be strict on holiday, but maintaining some healthy habits can help to continue your progress.
Start the day with a protein-rich breakfast where you can, such as eggs with vegetables or yoghurt with fruit and nuts. A palm-sized portion of protein at each meal helps you feel fuller for longer.
Keep to your usual meal pattern rather than grazing all day. This makes it easier to notice when you are full and to stop there.
Stay hydrated, especially in the heat, as it supports your energy and makes it easier to tell hunger from thirst.
Try to eat mindfully, eat slowly, and stop when you are comfortably full. Eating past fullness is one of the main reasons people feel nausea or discomfort on Wegovy.
If you overindulge and feel side effects like nausea from it, don’t be critical of yourself.
You’re on holiday, and overindulgences happen. Try to focus on the elements of your holiday that really matter, like time to relax, time spent with family, and novel experiences.
Food is one part of the holiday, but it’s not the main reason we go away.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take Wegovy through airport security?
Yes. Injectable medication and its needles are allowed in hand luggage, and the usual liquid limits don’t apply.
Carry it in its original packaging with your prescription, and tell security staff at screening.
Does the Wegovy pill need to be kept cold?
No. The pill is a daily tablet that needs no refrigeration.
Keep it in its original blister packaging, away from moisture, and below 30 degrees Celsius.
How long can the Wegovy injection stay out of the fridge?
A pen can be kept below 30 degrees Celsius for up to 28 days. After that, it shouldn’t be used.3
What happens if my Wegovy gets too hot or freezes?
Heat above 30 degrees Celsius or freezing can damage the medication, and a pen that has frozen shouldn’t be used.3
A cool bag in your hand luggage, kept away from ice packs, avoids both.
Can I travel with the Wegovy pill instead of the injection?
The pill and the injection are separate treatments, and switching between them is a decision for you and your prescriber.
The Wegovy pill is now approved in the UK, and our Wegovy pill guide covers current availability.
Do I need a doctor’s letter to fly with Wegovy?
Not always, but it’s sensible to carry one along with a copy of your prescription.
Some countries ask for a letter confirming what the medication is and why you take it, so check your destination’s rules before you go.5
Can I drink alcohol on holiday while taking Wegovy?
You can drink alcohol on Wegovy, but alcohol can trigger side effects and potentially mask some of the hunger-lowering effects of the medication.
If you do drink, keep it moderate and have it with food and water.
What should I do if I run out of Wegovy while abroad?
Take enough for the whole trip, plus a little spare, before you leave, as resupplying abroad can be hard to arrange.
If you do run low, contact your prescriber or your home pharmacy first rather than trying to buy it locally.
Take home message
Travelling with Wegovy can be simple as long as you prepare for the trip.
Keep the weekly injection in a cool bag in your hand luggage, in its original carton, and away from anything that could freeze it or cause it to exceed 30 degrees Celsius.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your prescriber, keep the medication in its original packaging, and check the rules for your destination before long-haul trips.
If you’re on the Wegovy pill, you don’t need to worry about cold storage as the pills can be carried at room temperature in your hand luggage.
Second Nature’s medication programme combines Wegovy with structured nutrition guidance from registered dietitians and nutritionists, built around the balanced plate of half vegetables, a quarter protein, a quarter complex carbohydrates such as wholegrain bread, brown rice, or oats, plus a serving of fat.
Our peer-reviewed study in JMIR Formative Research found that active subscribers on the semaglutide-supported programme lost an average of 19.1% of their body weight at 12 months, with 77.7% achieving at least 10% weight loss.6
Second Nature's Mounjaro and Wegovy programmes
Second Nature provides Mounjaro or Wegovy as part of our Mounjaro and Wegovy weight-loss programmes.
Why choose Second Nature over other medication providers, assuming you're eligible?
Because peace of mind matters.
We've had the privilege of working with the NHS for over eight years, helping people across the UK take meaningful steps toward a healthier, happier life.
Our programmes are designed to meet people where they are, whether that means support with weight loss through compassionate one-to-one health coaching, or access to the latest weight-loss medications (like Mounjaro and Wegovy) delivered alongside expert care from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, psychologists, dietitians, and personal trainers.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: real, lasting change comes from building better habits, not relying on quick fixes. We're here to support that change every step of the way.
With over a decade of experience, thousands of lives changed, and a long-standing record of delivering programmes used by the NHS, we believe we're the UK's most trusted weight-loss programme.
We hope to offer you something invaluable: peace of mind, and the support you need to take that first step.
