How to store and travel with Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications

It’s easy to get into a good, predictable groove of using an injectable GLP-1 medication like Ozempic when you’re home and in your usual routine. But when a trip comes up, questions can start swirling in your mind. Like…does this stuff need to be refrigerated when I’m on the go? How should that work for my road trip or a flight? Should it go in my carry-on or checked bag? Do I need a special form from my doctor to carry an injectable through airport security? No matter where you are and where you’re going, consider this your complete guide to safely storing Ozempic and other injectable GLP-1s. 

Key takeaways

• Refrigerate Ozempic (36°F-46°F) until your first use, as heat can shorten its shelf life.

• Once in use, an Ozempic pen is good at room temperature (59°F–86°F) for up to 56 days, long enough that most people finish a pen without re-refrigerating.

• Never freeze an Ozempic pen, and don't let it get above 86°F. Extreme temperatures can degrade the medication.

• Store Wegovy in the original carton to protect it from light.

• Traveling? Keep it in your carry-on, inside an insulated case with an ice pack if it's hot out. Make sure there’s a barrier between the ice and the pen to prevent freezing. (And if you travel frequently, ask your clinician whether an oral GLP-1 may be more convenient for you.)

• Other GLP-1 injections (Wegovy, Zepbound, Mounjaro) have their own storage rules, so read on for their specifics.

Yes, Ozempic — the brand name of the drug semaglutide, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes — needs to be refrigerated before you begin using it, which is why the pharmacy will store it cold) before you pick it up. Keep it in the fridge at home, too, to keep it cold until your first use. 

Once you start using an Ozempic pen, which holds multiple doses, you can keep it at room temperature (around 59°F to 86°F) for up to 56 days or in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F  according to Ozempic’s guidelines. The preservatives in the formula will keep it good for that eight-week period. Since a typical pen is used up within a month, you shouldn’t have to worry about refrigerating it again. That said, you may continue storing the pen in the refrigerator, as the cold will not damage the medication — just ensure it is not placed directly against the cooling element.

Note that these rules only apply to the injectable version of Ozempic. The Ozempic pill, formally known as Rybelsus, does not require any special handling or storage. 

Beyond the temperature guidelines, you’ll want to keep your medication protected from heat or light, in a secure place outside the reach of children. Also, remember to keep the cap on your pen when not in use.

If injectable Ozempic isn’t properly refrigerated before its first use, the active ingredient (semaglutide) can degrade, which means it may not work as well. If you immediately start using the pen and finish it within 56 days of bringing it home from the pharmacy, then you should be fine to leave it at room temperature for the entire time.

No, you shouldn’t put your Ozempic pen in the freezer. Freezing medications causes them to undergo both physical and chemical changes that can make them not work as well. "It should not be stored below 36°F," says Dr. Zoya Mohiuddin, M.D., Head of Patient Safety at Weight Watchers.

While it’s fine if your Ozempic injection is in a warm house, you don’t want it to go too hot. "The stability may be impacted if the pen is stored anywhere above 86°F," says Mohiuddin. Given this, you want to store your pens away from windows and direct sunlight. If keeping them unrefrigerated, choose a cool, dark location such as a kitchen cabinet, rather than a bathroom counter or medicine cabinet, which can be warm and humid. If you accidentally leave your medication in a hot car or another warm place, call your pharmacist or the manufacturer to determine your next steps.

If you accidentally forget your injectable medication in a hot car, in the freezer, or somewhere it's been exposed above 86°F, don't use it. The same goes if it's been out at room temp for longer than the 56-day room-temperature window. Rather than guessing whether it's still good, call your pharmacist or the manufacturer to check on your next steps, including getting a replacement if needed. It's not worth the risk of using medication that may no longer be effective.

A little planning goes a long way when you're on the move. If you’re traveling or commuting and need to take your injectable Ozempic:

• Always pack it in your carry-on. Never put it in checked luggage to avoid loss and exposure to extreme temperatures in the cargo hold.

• Bring your prescription label or original box. Do this just in case you need to show it. TSA allows medications and ice packs through security. 

• Use an insulated medication case. Or opt for a small cooler with a gel-cooling pack for longer trips or hot weather. Just don't let the pen touch the ice pack directly.

• Keep it in your purse or bag on road trips or errands. This is especially important during very cold or warm weather. Carry it with you when you leave the car, even for a quick stop.

• Traveling internationally or across time zones? The storage rules stay the same, but dosing schedules can get more complicated. (See Ozempic dosing & missed doses for guidance.)

• On a long trip, you can re-ice your cooler as needed. This is because the room-temperature clock is based on cumulative time, not a single stretch

If you miss a dose of Ozempic, the general rule is to take it as soon as you remember, as long as it's within a few days of your scheduled dose; if it's been longer, skip it and start back on your regular schedule rather than doubling up. Since exact guidance can vary based on how long it's been, check with your prescribing clinician. For the full breakdown, see Ozempic dosing and missed doses.

For Weight Watchers Med+ members, logging your doses in the WW app and turning on push notifications can be an easy way to get medication reminders so you never miss a dose.

Yes, but the specifics vary by medication, so don't assume Ozempic's numbers apply across the board.

Wegovy (semaglutide) pens should be refrigerated at 36°F–46°F before use, and once opened, a pen is good for up to 28 days at room temperature, between 46°F and 86°F. The Wegovy pill, a newer oral option, doesn't need refrigeration and can be stored at room temperature.

Zepbound and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) also need refrigeration at 36°F–46°F before first use. Once opened, each single-dose pen or vial is good at room temperature (up to 86°F) for up to 21 days, and it should not be returned to the fridge once it's been at room temperature. The four-dose Zepbound KwikPen must be refrigerated until used, after which it can remain at room temperature for up to 30 days.

Both drugs, made by Eli Lilly, carry identical storage guidance on their FDA labels. 

Zepbound KwikPen holds four weekly doses. Keep unused pens refrigerated at 36°F–46°F until the expiration date. Once opened, store at room temperature (up to 86°F) for up to 30 days.

Since exact windows differ by drug, it's worth double-checking the guidance for your specific medication. (See Zepbound storage & dosing.)

Since each injectable GLP-1 has its own storage guidelines, check the chart for your specifics.

Ozempic, an FDA-approved GLP-1 medication for type 2 diabetes, should be stored in your fridge until first use. Then, put it in a dry, temperate environment that’s not in direct sunlight — anywhere between 36°F and 86°F is great. It will be safe at that temperature for up to 56 days. If you’re on the move, invest in a portable lunchbox or cooler. And never check your medicine in your luggage when traveling.