Unopened semaglutide pens last in the fridge until their printed expiration date, which is typically many months from the date of purchase. Once you start using a pen, the clock changes depending on the brand: Ozempic pens are good for 56 days, while Wegovy pens should be used within 28 days. Both timelines apply whether you keep the pen refrigerated or at room temperature after first use.
Ozempic Storage: 56 Days After First Use
Before you use an Ozempic pen for the first time, store it in the refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C to 8°C). It stays good there until the expiration date on the packaging.
After your first injection from the pen, you have 56 days to finish it. During that window, you can keep it in the fridge or at room temperature between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C). After 56 days, throw the pen away even if medication remains inside. Since Ozempic is a once-weekly injection, a single pen typically contains four doses, so most people finish a pen well within the 56-day limit.
Wegovy Storage: 28 Days After First Use
Wegovy follows a shorter timeline. Unopened pens should be refrigerated at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) until you’re ready to use them. Once you remove a pen from the fridge (even before removing the cap), it can be kept at temperatures between 46°F and 86°F (8°C to 30°C) for up to 28 days. Because Wegovy pens are single-dose, this matters most if you take a pen out of the fridge and don’t inject right away.
Discard any Wegovy pen that has been out of the refrigerator for longer than 28 days, exposed to temperatures above 86°F, exposed to direct light, or frozen at any point.
Rybelsus Tablets: No Refrigeration Needed
If you take semaglutide in tablet form (Rybelsus), refrigeration isn’t necessary. Store the tablets at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F, with brief temperature swings up to 86°F being acceptable. The bigger concern with Rybelsus is moisture. Keep the tablets in their original blister packaging until you’re ready to take one, store them in a dry place, and don’t cut tablets out of the blister card ahead of time.
What Happens If Semaglutide Freezes
Freezing destroys semaglutide. The FDA labeling for Ozempic is explicit: do not freeze, and do not use a pen that has been frozen. This applies to Wegovy as well. There is no way to “thaw it out” and recover the medication. A frozen pen should go straight in the trash.
This is especially worth knowing because the back of a refrigerator, near the cooling element, can dip below freezing even when the fridge is set correctly. Store your pens toward the middle of a shelf, away from the back wall and any vents.
Keeping Semaglutide Safe During Travel
Semaglutide pens are fairly travel-friendly given their room-temperature windows (56 days for Ozempic, 28 days for Wegovy). For short trips, you likely don’t need a cooler at all as long as ambient temperatures stay below 86°F. In hot climates, a small insulated pouch with a cool pack (not frozen solid against the pen) helps keep things in range.
When flying, always pack your pens in your carry-on bag. Checked luggage goes into the cargo hold, where temperatures can swing from well below freezing to extreme heat. Either scenario can ruin the medication. Carry-on cabins stay climate-controlled throughout the flight.
Quick Reference by Product
- Ozempic (injection): Refrigerate unopened pens until expiration date. After first use, good for 56 days at 59°F to 86°F or in the fridge.
- Wegovy (injection): Refrigerate unopened pens until expiration date. Out of the fridge, use within 28 days at 46°F to 86°F.
- Rybelsus (tablet): Room temperature (68°F to 77°F). Keep in original blister pack away from moisture.
If you’re ever unsure whether a pen was stored correctly, check the solution through the pen window. Semaglutide should be clear and colorless. If it looks cloudy, contains particles, or has changed color, don’t use it.