Ozempic is a once-weekly injection that’s used to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by regulating hormones that control your blood sugar levels and reduce your appetite.
It’s important to store ozempic properly to keep it working effectively. It’s especially sensitive to temperature changes.
Temperature
Like Insulin, Victoza and Trulicity, Ozempic is a sensitive drug to temperature, light and moisture. Handling it correctly is essential to the safety and efficacy of the medication.
Unopened ozempic pens should be stored in the fridge between 36degF to 46degF (2degC to 8degC). You can also store them at room temperature, below 86degF (30degC) for up to 56 days.
You should discard an opened ozempic pen after 56 days, regardless of how it was stored. If it was left out of the fridge or in a hot environment for an extended period, it’s not safe to use anymore and must be disposed of.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in ozempic, can degrade and lose effectiveness when exposed to low or high temperatures. To ensure that your ozempic is stored at the proper temperature, read the label and follow any instructions provided by your doctor or pharmacist.
Light
If you leave ozempic out of the fridge, it’s important to protect it from heat or light. This can make it go bad.
Ozempic should always be kept in the refrigerator at a temperature between 36degF and 46degF. It’s also important to replace the pen cap after each use and store it away from light.
In addition, Ozempic should never be left out in the sun. The sun’s temperature can damage the plastic in your pens and cause them to break or malfunction.
When you’re traveling, be sure to keep your pens in a medical-grade cooler. This way, they won’t be exposed to the hot temperatures in your car or plane.
When you’re not using your ozempic, it can be stored at room temperature for up to 56 days. After this period, it should be disposed of, even if you have medicine in the pen. This is because ozempic no longer helps you to control your blood sugar levels and may have started losing its effectiveness.
Moisture
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Ozempic, a 1x a week injection that can help people with Type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar. It also does not require you to inject yourself daily, making it a convenient option for many diabetics.
It is important to understand how to store ozempic safely to ensure the drug remains effective and safe to use. The medication must not be exposed to light or temperatures higher than 86degF (30degC) for any extended period of time, according to Novo Nordisk.
The liquid inside an ozempic pen should be clear and colorless, with no clumps or particles. If it appears discolored, cloudy or has an unusual odor, it may have gone bad and should not be used. If you have any questions about storing ozempic, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Debris
If ozempic is left out of the fridge, there’s a good chance that it will get contaminated. This debris can include solid elements, particles, or even strings that may cause the ozempic to change in appearance or become less potent.
It’s important to keep your ozempic away from the fridge and out of sunlight. The reason is that exposure to extreme temperatures (above 86degF or 30degC) can affect the effectiveness of the medication, which makes it unsafe for use.
The same goes for freezing Ozempic, as the frozen material breaks down and doesn’t regain its efficiency. In addition, ozempic can’t be stored near a refrigerator’s cooling element because it can freeze and cause damage to the structure.
The best way to avoid ozempic being exposed to these contaminants is by storing it in a sharps container when you’re finished using it. These containers should be made from heavy-duty plastic, have a tight-fitting and puncture-resistant lid, and are leak-proof. When your container is full, follow your community’s guidelines for disposal of sharps containers.