Quick Answer: Ozempic pens must be stored in the fridge before first use. Once opened, they may be kept at room temperature, provided it's below 30°C, or returned to the fridge. Regardless, an opened or unrefrigerated Ozempic pen must be used within 56 days.
Ozempic (semaglutide) is an injectable treatment specifically developed for type 2 diabetes that not only reduces blood sugar levels but also has potential weight-loss benefits.
Today, we'll explore a critical yet often overlooked aspect of Ozempic: its storage and cooling needs.
Semaglutide, the active drug in your Ozempic pens, is highly sensitive to temperature changes and requires careful handling and consistent temperature control to remain safe and effective.
We'll guide you through the necessary steps and provide practical advice and answers to frequently asked questions about storing your Ozempic pen at home.
Related article: How to Travel With Ozempic: Travel Cases & Flying Tips!
Get the full picture by watching the video below!
Does Ozempic Need to Be Refrigerated?
Indeed, Ozempic must be refrigerated to preserve its effectiveness and potency. Yet, there is some leeway in its storage conditions.
Your Ozempic pens can safely stay out of the fridge for up to 56 days, offering a practical timeframe for use. Let's examine the details to fully grasp what this involves.
Ozempic Pen Storage Instructions
According to Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, here's the proper way to store your Ozempic pens:
- Unopened Ozempic pens: Keep your unopened Ozempic pens chilled in the refrigerator, ensuring they are stored at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C.
- After opening: Once you have used your Ozempic pen for the first time, you have two options. You may either keep it at room temperature, making sure it does not exceed 30°C, or you can put it back in the fridge. Whichever option you choose, remember that the pen must be used within a maximum of 56 days.
What Happens If Ozempic Is Not Refrigerated Before First Use?
When Ozempic is not refrigerated for too long, the stability of its active ingredient, semaglutide, might be jeopardised. Chilling helps prolong the shelf life of biologic medications such as Ozempic by curbing chemical reactions that lead to degradation.
On a cellular level, if Ozempic is not refrigerated, several issues can arise:
- Protein instability: As a peptide-based treatment, semaglutide is susceptible to degradation at higher temperatures. Storing it in the fridge preserves the protein's structure, preventing it from unfolding or breaking apart.
- Chemical degradation: Elevated temperatures can speed up chemical reactions within the medication, degrading semaglutide. This reduces Ozempic's effectiveness in lowering blood glucose levels.
- Microbial growth: Warmer conditions are perfect for microbes to thrive, potentially contaminating Ozempic and making it unsafe. Refrigeration inhibits microbial growth, ensuring the sterility of your diabetes injections.
- Loss of efficacy: If not stored in the fridge before its first use, your Ozempic pens might partially or completely lose their effectiveness, which could diminish control over blood sugar levels and increase diabetes-related complications.
Related article: Is Your Semaglutide Safe? Storage Tips You Need to Know!
How Long Can Ozempic Be Out Of The Fridge?
Ozempic can be kept out of the fridge for up to 56 days. After this period, it must be thrown away. Lab tests have shown that Ozempic's effectiveness declines after 56 days without refrigeration, reducing its capability to manage blood sugar levels.
Related article: Ozempic Pen Not Working: Malfunctions and Troubleshooting Steps!
Storing Ozempic at Room Temperature
Ozempic is stable at room temperature for 56 days. But it must always be shielded from heat even when not refrigerated. Being exposed to temperatures over 30°C can weaken its effectiveness.
When you store your Ozempic pens at room temperature, they must be kept between 15°C to 30°C and used with in 56 days, regardless of remaining medication.
For example, if you begin a new pen on April 1st, it should be disposed of by May 26th to avoid using expired Ozempic.
When living ot travelling to hot climates where temperature rises above 30°C, you should always carry your Ozempic pens in medical-grade travel case coolers.
How Long Is Ozempic Good For?
Ozempic pens stored correctly in the fridge are good until their expiry dates as indicated on the pen and carton.
But after opening or if left unrefrigerated, Ozempic pens are good for only 56 days. If they are exposed to temperatures above 30°C, they should not be used, regardless of their expiry date and the 56-day window.
Related article: Does Wegovy Need to be Refrigerated? How to Store Your Pens?
Does Ozempic Expire?
Yes, like all medications, Ozempic expires. Each Ozempic pen comes with an expiration date printed on the pen itself and on the packaging. Generally, the expiration date occurs about a year from the purchase date. Awlays check this date before using Ozempic to ensure your pen hasn't expired.
But that's not all! Really, Ozempic has two expiration dates. The "official" one labelled on the pen, and the one that naturally occurs 56 days after a pen has been oepened out of the fridge.
Therefore, you must keep track of these 2 expiration dates to ensure you're not using expired Ozempic. Never use expired Ozempic.
What Happens If You Use Ozempic After 56 Days?
Using Ozempic beyond the recommended 56-day period after opening, whether it's been at room temperature or in the fridge, is not safe. It can lead to reduced effectiveness in controlling blood sugar levels.
Extended use of Ozempic beyond this timeframe may result in inadequate management of diabetes and potentially serious health complications.
Always keep track of this expiration period and never use an Ozempic pen that's been out of the fridge or open for more than 56 days.
Ozempic Storage: FAQs
Alright, we've gone over the fundamentals of Ozempic storage rules; now let's dive deeper. Below, you'll find a series of frequently asked questions about storing Ozempic, complete with practical responses and our top advice to ensure your semaglutide injections retain their full effectiveness.
What To Do If You Forgot To Refrigerate Ozempic?
If you forget to refrigerate Ozempic, don't worry-mistakes happen to everyone using refrigerated medications.
Remember, Ozempic can stay outside the fridge for up to 56 days. If you inadvertently leave your Ozempic pen out, like on the kitchen counter for a few hours, there's no need to panic. Simply return it to the fridge as soon as you can. It will still be effective as long as it's used within the 56-day limit.
What If Ozempic Was Left Out Overnight?
If Ozempic was accidentally left out overnight, its usability depends on the temperature conditions.
If the temperature stayed below 30°C, your Ozempic pens remain safe to use. However, because the cold chain has been interrupted, you must use the pen within 56 days, regardless of whether it is returned to the fridge or kept at room temperature.
If there's any doubt about the temperature or if it was particularly high that night (above 30°C), it's best to err on the side of caution, discard the Ozempic pen, and use a new one from the refrigerator.
Can You Put Ozempic Back In The Fridge After It's Been At Room Temperature?
Yes, you can return Ozempic to the fridge after it has been at room temperature.
For instance, if you removed your Ozempic pen from the fridge in the morning to administer your dose and left it out on the kitchen counter all day, you can put it back in the fridge in the evening. However, remember that the pen must still be used within 56 days; returning it to the fridge does not extend this usage window.
Can You Inject Ozempic Cold Straight from the Fridge?
Yes, you can use Ozempic directly from the fridge. However, injecting the medication while it's cold may lead to discomfort or increased pain at the injection site.
To enhance comfort, it is recommended to allow the Ozempic pen to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before you inject. This small step can significantly decrease any discomfort associated with the injection of cold medication.
Can You Freeze an Ozempic Pen?
Just like Insulin and pretty much any other medical injections, Ozempic should never be frozen.
Ozempic is formulated as an aqueous solution with its active ingredient, semaglutide, dissolved in water. It freezes at 0°C and turns solid.
Once frozen, the structure of the solution breaks down irreversibly, making it ineffective. Even after it thaws, frozen Ozempic is considered unsafe for use. If your Ozempic pen freezes, you must discard it immediately and replace it with a new one.
What Happens If Ozempic Gets Too Hot?
If Ozempic gets too hot, say it's exposed to temperatures above 30°C, its effectiveness can be significantly reduced, and the semaglutide it contains may not function properly.
Subjecting Ozempic to temperatures above 30°C, even for a short period, can cause the medication to degrade rapidly, diminishing its ability to control blood sugar levels effectively.
For example, placing Ozempic near heat sources such as radiators or ovens can expose it to unsafe temperatures, threatening its therapeutic benefits.
Related article: Empty Ozempic Pen: How to Know and What to Do!
Does Ozempic go Bad?
Yes, Ozempic can quickly go bad if it's not stored correctly, subjected to heat, left out of the fridge for over 56 days, or used past its expiry date.
Semaglutide should be a clear and colorless liquid. If you observe any solid particles, strings, or a change in color, these are indications that your Ozempic pen may have gone bad.
Additionally, if your blood glucose levels remain unusually high, it might suggest that your Ozempic pen is no longer effective and could have gone bad.
Should you have any doubts about the quality of your medication, cease using the pen, secure a replacement from the refrigerator, and consult with your doctor or pharmacist for guidance.
We'd Love to Hear Your Thoughts!
Do you use Ozempic? Have you encountered any problems with storing or refrigerating your pens? Please feel free to share your experiences and pose any questions in the comments below!
