How to store your GLP-1 pen and travel with it

In the fridge

Before use, pens go in the refrigerator, between 36 and 46 °F (2 and 8 °C), in the original box or with the cap on, to keep them protected from light. Keep them away from the freezer and the back of the fridge.

Never freeze the pen. A pen that has frozen should not be used.

Out of the fridge: each pen has its own rule

How long the pen can stay out of the fridge, and up to what temperature, depends on the type of pen, and the type varies from country to country. There are single-dose pens and multi-dose pens, and each has a different rule, including after the first injection.

That’s why we don’t give a number here: the time limit for your pen is printed on the box and in the package leaflet. When in doubt, go with the shorter one, and your pharmacist can confirm it. Once that time is up, the pen gets thrown away, even with medication left inside.

What applies to every pen

Whatever your pen, some precautions don’t change.

• Keep it away from direct sun and heat: a closed car or a glove compartment is no place for a pen.
• A pen is for one person only. Never share it, even with a new needle.
• If your treatment is a pill, like oral semaglutide (Rybelsus), it doesn’t go in the fridge: keep it in its original package, away from moisture and heat.

When you travel

The care is the same everywhere; what needs attention is getting there.

• When you fly, keep the pen in your carry-on, never in checked luggage: the cargo hold can freeze the medication.
• An insulated travel case helps, with no ice touching the pen.
• Bring your prescription and check the rules of the country you’re going to.
• Check ahead of time whether a dose falls during the trip.
• If you cross time zones, keep the same day of the week for your dose. If you need to change the day, semaglutide and tirzepatide, which are weekly, call for at least 3 days since your last dose; liraglutide is daily, and what you keep is the time of day. Work out the change with your care team.
• A missed dose follows your medication’s own rule, which is in the package leaflet and with your prescriber.

Water and food on the road

Heat, alcohol and unfamiliar food can make nausea worse. Vomiting and diarrhea are dehydrating, and dehydration can affect the kidneys: when you travel, be extra mindful of drinking water throughout the day.