Do Mounjaro, Zepbound, Wegovy and Ozempic Need to Be Refrigerated?

Every injectable GLP-1 starts in the refrigerator; the differences are how long it may sit at room temperature and what happens after first use.

All the injectable labels say not to freeze the drug and not to use it if it has been frozen.1,3,4

Yes. Mounjaro single-dose pens and vials belong in the refrigerator, but each one can be kept unrefrigerated at up to 86°F for a total of 21 days, then must be discarded.2 The Mounjaro KwikPen and multi-dose vial can stay in the refrigerator until the expiration date on the label.2 Unopened at room temperature, they must be thrown away after 30 days.2

Once a KwikPen or multi-dose vial is in use, it can be kept in the fridge or at room temperature up to 86°F.2 It is discarded after 30 days at room temperature, 30 days after first use, or after 4 weekly doses, whichever comes first.2 Zepbound follows the same rules for each matching device.1 Keep both in the original carton to protect them from light.1,2

There is no need to warm a Zepbound pen before injecting. Lilly's instructions say it is not necessary to bring the pen to room temperature.7

For brand-name tirzepatide, an unopened KwikPen or multi-dose vial kept refrigerated can be used until its expiration date.1 An opened one is discarded 30 days after first use, even if it has been in the fridge.1 Compounded tirzepatide is different; see below.

Yes. Wegovy pens and syringes are stored in the refrigerator, and a single-dose pen can be kept at 46°F to 86°F for up to 28 days before its cap is removed.3 The pen must stay in its original carton until the injection.3 The patient instructions say to throw it away if it has been above 86°F or out of the refrigerator for 28 days or longer.3

The Wegovy FlexTouch pen, which holds four doses, works differently. It is refrigerated before first use, then can be kept at 59°F to 86°F or in the fridge for 56 days.3 The label also says not to store Wegovy in the freezer or directly next to the refrigerator's cooling element.3

The Wegovy pill needs no refrigeration. It is kept at room temperature in its original bottle to protect it from moisture.3 Our oral GLP-1 rankings cover programs that prescribe it.

Yes, before first use. An Ozempic pen is stored in the refrigerator until its first injection, then can be kept at 59°F to 86°F or in the fridge for 56 days.4 The single-dose Ozempic syringe is refrigerated and can be kept at 46°F to 86°F for up to 28 days if needed.4 Ozempic should be protected from excessive heat and sunlight.4

The Ozempic label gives no room-temperature allowance for an unused pen.4 If a new pen was left out, ask your pharmacist or the manufacturer whether it can still be used before injecting it.

Compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide have no FDA label, so storage and beyond-use dates come from the compounding pharmacy's own label. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality.8

For multi-dose vials, the FDA's general advice is to use them within 28 days after first use, because the risk of contamination rises after that.8 It advises discarding the vial within 28 days of first use even if medicine remains, and using a new sterile needle and syringe for every dose.8

So for questions like how long compounded tirzepatide can be out of the fridge, or how long compounded semaglutide lasts in the fridge, the answer is on the pharmacy's label, not on the Zepbound or Wegovy label. If the label is missing or unclear, call the pharmacy. Our rankings of compounded tirzepatide programs and compounded semaglutide programs compare where these vials come from, and compounded tirzepatide vs Zepbound sets out the differences.

Carry GLP-1 pens in your carry-on, declare them at the TSA checkpoint, and keep them within the label's temperature limits. TSA allows medically necessary liquids in reasonable quantities, but they must be declared to officers for inspection.10 Ice packs, freezer packs and gel packs used to keep medically necessary items cool may be brought in a frozen, partially frozen or melted state.9

At the checkpoint, TSA asks travelers to take medically necessary items out of the carry-on and place them in a bin, and says syringes must be screened.9 Clearly labeling medication helps the screening.9

Lilly's Canadian guidance for the Mounjaro KwikPen says not to pack it in checked luggage, because luggage holds can have wide temperature swings, and to keep the pen with you.11 For trips without a fridge, a Zepbound single-dose pen can stay at up to 86°F for a total of 21 days.1 If your injection day moves with time zones, the Zepbound label requires at least 3 days (72 hours) between doses.1

Can I put Zepbound back in the fridge after it has been out? The label counts a total of 21 days at room temperature for each single-dose pen or vial.1 Once that total is used up, discard it.

What happens if semaglutide is not refrigerated? The Wegovy instructions say to discard a pen that has been above 86°F or out of the fridge for 28 days or longer.3 Do not use a GLP-1 that has been frozen.3,4

Does the Wegovy pill need to be refrigerated? No. Store it at 68°F to 77°F in its original bottle, away from moisture.3

Does Foundayo need to be refrigerated? No. Foundayo is stored at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F.6

The KwikPen and vial formats change both storage and price. Our Zepbound cost guide compares formats, and our cheapest Zepbound options rank where to buy. Before your first injection, read how to inject Zepbound or how to inject Mounjaro.

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Follow the storage instructions on your own carton or pharmacy label, and ask your pharmacist if a pen or vial may have been stored outside its limits.