How to Properly Store Ozempic: Need to Know Info

Keeping your medication stored properly is part of responsible use. After all, if your medication isn’t properly stored, it could decrease in effectiveness, become ineffective altogether, or potentially cause side effects.

Read on to see how to properly store your Ozempic pen, why it’s important to maintain a temperature between 2 to 30°C, and what to look for in order to tell if your medication is still able to be used.

As you know, Ozempic is one of several medications available through Felix. You can request it specifically, but your prescription is always subject to approval from your Felix practitioner. If your prescription is approved, we’ll ship it right to your door for free.

Proper Temperature Requirements for Your Ozempic Pen

The medication in your Ozempic pen needs to stay between 2 to 30°C in order to be stable. Before using, check that the liquid inside is clear and colourless — like water— with no floating or particulate matter. Refrigeration can help keep the medication within the 2 to 30˚C range, but it is not necessary unless the temperature in the location of storage is outside of this range. The pen you are using can be kept at room temperature for up to 56 days.

If your medication falls below 2°C or exceeds 30°C, for a lengthy period of time, we can’t guarantee its stability. Exceeding the range on either side of this spectrum can result in adverse effects.

Since we process and ship the medication at room temperature, it will be stable for up to 56 days if stored between 2 to 30°C.

If the medication ingredients fluctuate in temperature outside of the approved levels, you could experience hypersensitivity allergic reactions. If you’re not sure if you’ve had a reaction, contact a healthcare professional, attend urgent care, or call 911. If it’s not an emergency, contact your Felix practitioner.

Shipping Information for Your Ozempic Pen

How Much Medication Will I Receive at Once?

When you first start your prescription will last 13 weeks. We’ll ship your first Ozempic pen once you’re approved, then approximately every three to six weeks after receiving your prescription.  Your second pen will be shipped to you during week six. Check out this blog on Your First Six Weeks when starting your Ozempic prescription with Felix for more detail. 

If you can keep your Ozempic pens within the 2 to 30°C range, your pen should last until your next refill shipment arrives. 

It’s crucial to maintain the temperature of your Ozempic pen. The drug needs to be kept between 2 and 30°C. Though we do our best to ensure ideal shipping conditions, we recommend ensuring someone is present to receive and sign for your package right away to keep your medication within the required range. Refrigerating your medication can help keep it within the required 2 and 30°C temperature, but it is not necessary.

Shipping Conditions

In some cases we may add ice packs to help keep the medication temperature between 2 and 30°C. If you find a melted ice pack inside, don’t worry. This is normal and expected; the internal temperature of your medication should still be within the suitable range. However, we do recommend immediately moving it to a temperature-monitored location.

Please note that shipment packaging is selected based on external temepratures to ensure your medication stays within the required 2 to 30˚C range.

How to Check the Stability of Your Medication

Your Ozempic pen has a window where you can see the medication liquid inside. If the liquid is clear and colourless (like water), your medication is stable and ready to be used. It’s important to use your medication within the 56-day shelf life that’s indicated by the pharmacy label guidelines.

The pharmacy label date may be different from the medication expiry date on the Ozempic pen box. This is because we’ve processed the medication at room temperature and updated the new expiration date accordingly. 

If you notice anything floating in your medication (e.g. if it looks more like lemonade than water), or if the liquid is a different colour than clear, don’t take your medication. Book a call with a Felix pharmacist, and a Felix pharmacist will advise you on next steps.

How to Properly Dispose of Your Medication

Safe disposal of your Ozempic pen needle tips is important. You’ll be provided with a sharps disposal kit and proper instructions. Make sure that you’re safely disposing of your used needle tips (after it has been removed from the pen) using the sharps disposal container provided to you with your first shipment. Pens (once the needle tip has been removed from the pen) can be disposed of in the sharps container as well.

Now that you know how to properly receive, store, use, and dispose of your Ozempic pen, you're all set to smoothly integrate the medication into your daily routine. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to talk to a Felix pharmacist, or reach out to us at hello@felixforyou.ca.