Wegovy pens should be stored in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). If refrigeration isn’t available, an unused pen with the cap still on can stay at room temperature, up to 86°F (30°C), for a maximum of 28 days. After that window or above that temperature, the pen should be thrown away.
Refrigeration Is the Default
Your Wegovy pens belong in the refrigerator from the moment you bring them home. The target range is 36°F to 46°F, which is the temperature of most standard household fridges. Keep the pens in their original carton to shield them from light, and place them somewhere they won’t get shoved to the back wall where frost tends to build up. The middle shelf or a door compartment usually works well.
Wegovy that has been frozen is no longer safe to use. Even brief exposure to freezing temperatures can damage the medication’s structure. If you find that a pen has frozen, discard it. This is one reason to avoid storing pens directly against the back wall of the fridge or near a freezer compartment vent, where temperatures can dip below the safe range.
The 28-Day Room Temperature Rule
Life doesn’t always include a fridge nearby. If you need to keep a pen out of refrigeration, you have up to 28 days as long as two conditions are met: the temperature stays at or below 86°F (30°C), and the pen cap has not been removed. Once you hit 28 days outside the fridge, or the pen is exposed to temperatures above 86°F at any point, discard it regardless of how much medication is left.
It helps to write the date on the carton or pen when you first take it out of the fridge. Twenty-eight days can blur together easily, and there’s no visible change to the medication that tells you it’s expired from a storage standpoint. If you’re unsure how long a pen has been at room temperature, the safest choice is to throw it away and use a new one.
Protect Your Pens From Light and Heat
Wegovy is sensitive to light. The manufacturer recommends keeping pens in the original carton at all times when not in use. Don’t leave a pen sitting on a countertop, windowsill, or bathroom shelf where it’s exposed to direct sunlight or overhead lighting for extended periods.
Heat is the other concern. A pen left in a hot car, near an oven, or on a sunny table outdoors can quickly exceed 86°F. Even on a mild 75°F day, the interior of a parked car can reach well over 100°F within 30 minutes. If you suspect a pen has been exposed to high temperatures, discard it.
How to Travel With Wegovy
When flying, always pack Wegovy in your carry-on luggage. Checked bags go into the cargo hold, where temperatures can swing from well below freezing at altitude to extreme heat on a tarmac. Neither is safe for this medication.
A thermal or insulated travel case is your best tool for keeping pens in range during transit. Place the pen inside the case, but do not set it directly against an ice pack. Direct contact with ice can freeze the medication. If your case uses ice packs, wrap them in a cloth or towel to create a buffer. Many pharmacies and online retailers sell medical-grade travel coolers specifically designed for injectable medications.
Road trips present similar challenges. Avoid the glove compartment and trunk, both of which can get dangerously hot or cold depending on the season. Keep the pen in the passenger cabin, ideally in an insulated case, and try not to leave it in the car for long stretches. If you’re stopping for a meal or sightseeing, take the case with you.
How to Tell if a Pen Is Still Good
Before each injection, look at the medication through the pen’s viewing window. The liquid should appear clear and colorless. If it looks cloudy, discolored, or contains visible particles, do not use it. These changes can signal that the medication has degraded, whether from temperature exposure, light, or simply exceeding its shelf life. A pen that looks normal but has been stored outside its recommended conditions should still be discarded, since not all degradation is visible.
Disposing of Used Pens Safely
Wegovy pens contain a needle, so they count as sharps and should never go directly into your household trash or recycling. Place used pens in a sharps disposal container. You can buy one at most pharmacies, or make your own from a heavy-duty plastic household container like an empty laundry detergent bottle. The key requirements: it needs a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, should stand upright without tipping, and must be leak-resistant. Label it clearly as hazardous waste and keep it out of reach of children and pets.
Once the container is about three-quarters full, seal it and follow your local community guidelines for disposal. Novo Nordisk also offers a free sharps disposal program. If you request a container through their NovoCare program, they’ll provide return shipping instructions so you can send it back for safe disposal at no cost.