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On the road—and in the air—with Norditropin®.

> > > Travel With Norditropin

On the road—and in the air—with Norditropin®.

If you’re planning a family trip and wondering how to travel with Norditropin®, it may be helpful to know that with some preparation, you can take it with you, whether you’re going across the state or across the globe.

Before you leave.

Plan the number of doses you need, so you’ll know how many pens to pack. To calculate, just divide the number of milligrams in the pen by your child’s daily dose. For example, if your child’s dose is 1.25 mg, a 10 mg pen would be enough for 8 doses.

PARENT TIP:

Some parents bring the number of doses their child will need. That way, there are no storage concerns on the trip home.

Here’s one example:

“For my son, a new FlexPro® pen is 8 doses. So a week or so before a 5-day trip, we’ll plan to use a new pen for 3 doses, then set that pen aside to take with us. While we’re traveling, we use the remaining 5 doses and dispose of the device on our last day.”

Please follow your doctor's instructions when traveling with your medication.

aAll unused Norditropin® products must be refrigerated (36°F to 46°F) prior to first use. Do not freeze and avoid direct light. After first injection, Norditropin® pens can either be stored outside of the refrigerator (up to 77°F) for use within 3 weeks, or in the refrigerator (between 36°F and 46°F) for use within 4 weeks.

Get your FlexPro® pens ready. If you’re taking pens that have been primed, you won’t need to refrigerate them. But if you’re taking new devices, you will need to refrigerate until you use them for the first time. So you might need to plan on using a cooler and some ice packs to keep everything at the proper temperature while traveling to your destination. If you’re staying in a hotel, request a room with a refrigerator if you need to store new pens. And if you’re traveling by car, keep in mind the interior temperature can quickly rise above 77°F.

PARENT TIP:

If you need to freeze ice packs, the room fridge may not do the trick. Just ask to keep the ice packs in the hotel freezer—usually the staff is happy to accommodate!

If you’re flying, prepare for security checkpoints. Plan to pack your child’s Norditropin® in your carry-on luggage. Not only will you have it in case checked luggage is delayed, but you’ll also avoid the cargo area’s extreme temperatures. Primed pens can be kept at room temperature in your carry-on bag; new pens should be kept cool in your cooler. Pens should not be stored directly on the ice packs to avoid freezing. Be sure your ice packs are frozen solid—if they’ve started to melt, they are subject to the same rules as other liquids.

PARENT TIP:

Some parents prime their FlexPro® pens ahead of a trip so they can be transported without refrigeration. It’s still a good idea to be prepared with a cooler in case temperatures rise about 77°F (the maximum storage temperature after initial use).a

aAll Norditropin® products must be refrigerated (36°F to 46°F) prior to first use. Do not freeze and avoid direct light. After first injection, Norditropin® pens can either be stored outside of the refrigerator (up to 77°F) for use within 3 weeks, or in the refrigerator (between 36°F and 46°F) for use within 4 weeks.

Get a signed letter from your child’s doctor. The letter should inform airport personnel and airline staff that your child is being treated with Norditropin® and you’ll need to have it in your carry-on luggage. To help out, we’ve created a letter you can download, print, and take right to your doctor to sign.

At the airport.

Get a visual inspection. Ask airport security to visually inspect your medication, instead of putting it through the X-ray scanner. For more info, check the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rules and regulations ahead of time.

PARENT TIP:

Along with the doctor’s letter, bring the Norditropin® prescription label. Have the bag with the medication and supplies out and ready for inspection. And always allow for extra time, in case of any inspection-related delays.

Follow these tips and traveling with Norditropin® can be smooth sailing, all the way!

Please note that the situations, experiences, and tips described in this article are not intended as medical advice. They are unique to the families depicted and are not necessarily the typical experiences of families with children who have growth hormone–related disorders or are being treated with Norditropin®. Talk to your health care provider regarding the treatment of growth disorders or any health concerns you have.

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Selected Important Safety Information

Do not use Norditropin® if: you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or breathing (respiratory) problems; you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea; you have cancer or other tumors; you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in Norditropin®; your healthcare provider tells you that you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy); you are a child with closed bone growth plates (epiphyses).

Indications and Usage

What is Norditropin® (somatropin) injection?
 
Norditropin® is a prescription medicine that contains human growth hormone and is used to treat:
  • children who are not growing because of low or no growth hormone 
  • children who are short (in stature) and who have Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, or were born small (small for gestational age-SGA) and have not caught-up in growth by age 2 to 4 years 
  • children who have Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS) 
  • children who are not growing who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) 
  • adults who do not make enough growth hormone

Important Safety Information (cont’d)

Before taking Norditropin®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have had heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory problems) 
  • have had a history of problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea) 
  • have or have had cancer or any tumor 
  • have diabetes 
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Norditropin® may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Norditropin® works.

How should I use Norditropin®?

  • Use Norditropin® exactly as your health care provider tells you to 
  • Do not share your Norditropin® pens and needles with another person even if the needle has been changed. You may give another person an infection or get an infection from them.

What are the possible side effects of Norditropin®?
Norditropin® may cause serious side effects, including:

  • high risk of death in people who have critical illnesses because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems 
  • high risk of sudden death in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems including sleep apnea 
  • increased risk of growth of cancer or a tumor that is already present and increased risk of the return of cancer or a tumor in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems. Contact the healthcare provider if you or your child start to have headaches, or have changes in behavior, changes in vision, or changes in moles, birthmarks, or the color of your skin 
  • new or worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes 
  • increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension). If you or your child has headaches, eye problems, nausea or vomiting, contact the healthcare provider 
  • serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you or your child has the following symptoms: swelling of your face, lips, mouth or tongue, trouble breathing, wheezing, severe itching, skin rashes, redness or swelling, dizziness or fainting, fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest, or sweating 
  • your body holding too much fluid (fluid retention) such as swelling in the hands and feet, pain in your joints or muscles or nerve problems that cause pain, burning, or tingling in the hands, arms, legs and feet. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms of fluid retention. 
  • decrease in a hormone called cortisol. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has darkening of the skin, severe fatigue, dizziness, weakness or weight loss 
  • decrease in thyroid hormone levels 
  • hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis) 
  • worsening of pre-existing curvature of the spine (scoliosis) 
  • severe and constant abdominal pain can be a sign of pancreatitis. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has any new abdominal pain. 
  • loss of fat and tissue weakness in the area of skin you inject 
  • increase in phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone levels in your blood

The most common side effects of Norditropin® include:

  • injection site reactions and rashes, and headaches

Please click here for Norditropin® Prescribing Information.

Norditropin® is a prescription medication.

Novo Nordisk provides patient assistance for those who qualify. Please call 1-866-310-7549 to learn more about Novo Nordisk assistance programs.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800- FDA-1088.

Talk to your health care provider and find out if Norditropin® is right for you or your child.