Can you fly with prescribed injectable peptides or GLP-1 pens?

Liquids and the 3.4 oz limit

TSA's page on liquid medications says medically necessary liquids are allowed in reasonable quantities over the standard limit. You are asked to declare them at the checkpoint and take them out of the carry-on for separate screening.

Syringes and pens

TSA's syringe page says unused syringes are allowed when accompanied by injectable medication, and that they must be declared. We did not find a TSA page about GLP-1 pens or other pens specifically, so how a given pen is treated is for TSA to confirm.

Labels and notes

TSA recommends, but does not require, that medication be labeled. None of the TSA pages we read require a doctor's note.

Keeping it cool

TSA's gel and ice pack page says frozen liquid items pass if frozen solid, and partly melted ones must otherwise meet the 3-1-1 rule. It makes an exception for medically necessary gel ice packs in reasonable quantities, which are allowed in any state, including melted or slushy. TSA asks you to tell the officer. Its TSA Cares page says packs may be presented frozen, partially frozen or melted and should go in a separate bin with the medication.

At the checkpoint

TSA says to tell the officer before screening. You can decline X-ray screening or opening of the liquid, in which case additional steps follow, which may include a pat-down. Officers may test liquids, and if an alarm cannot be resolved the item may not be allowed through.

What this does not cover

• Airline rules and checked-bag conditions. TSA's pages are about screening.
• How long a pen may be out of refrigeration. That limit is in the product's label; see our page on label storage.
• International travel, which is covered separately.