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How long does Ozempic last? Shelf life and other considerations

Learn how to store your Ozempic pens and when to throw them away
Sarah Bradley writer headshot
By | Sep. 18, 2024 Medically reviewed by Jesse P. Houghton, MD, FACG
An Ozempic pen: How long does Ozempic last? Shelf life and other considerations

Key takeaways

  • A single Ozempic pen has a shelf life of 56 days after opening it, as long as it’s stored correctly before and during use.

  • Store unopened Ozempic in the fridge. Store opened Ozempic either in the fridge or at room temperature, but away from bright lights and extreme hot or cold temperatures.

  • Ozempic that has expired isn’t dangerous itself, but it may be less potent and can affect your ability to manage your diabetes.

  • You should dispose of all Ozempic pens, whether expired or empty, in a sharps-approved container according to your community guidelines for safe needle disposal.

In this article:

 If you’re one of the many people taking glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like Ozempic (semaglutide) for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, it’s important to know how these drugs work and how to properly store them at home. Because you’ll use a single Ozempic pen more than once to give yourself a metered dose, it needs to be stored under the right conditions after opening to maintain its full shelf life of 56 days. Without proper storage, your pen might expire sooner, affecting how well it works. In other words, your medication may not provide the same benefits or continue helping you manage your diabetes. 

Here’s what to know about Ozempic shelf life, where you should store your opened and unopened pens, how long they last once opened, and what you should do if your Ozempic expires.

How long does an Ozempic pen last?

You can find the Ozempic expiration date at one end of each box. Unopened Ozempic pens will last until that date, as long as they’re kept refrigerated. But once opened, the clock starts ticking faster. Erika Gray, Pharm.D., cofounder of Toolbox Genomics, says as soon as you open a new pen, it’s only usable for the next 56 days. After that, it’s no longer recommended to continue dosing yourself with that pen.

How to store Ozempic

While an opened Ozempic pen can have a shelf life of 56 days, that number is dependent on correct storage after you bring it home from the pharmacy and between weekly doses. 

According to Brian Staiger, Pharm.D., of HelloPharmacist, Ozempic should be stored in the fridge before its first use, at a temperature between 36°F and 46°F. Then, once it’s been opened, you can choose to put it back in the fridge again or keep it at room temperature. Novo Nordisk, Ozempic’s manufacturer, defines room temperature as 59°F to 86°F. But regardless of the storage conditions, Dr. Staiger says the pen must be used within 56 days after opening.

Dr. Gray also notes that you should keep the pen in a dark cupboard or drawer and avoid extreme temperatures. For example, never freeze it or expose it to a heat source.

What happens if you use expired Ozempic?

Dr. Staiger says expired Ozempic is not likely to be harmful or break down into dangerous substances, but it is likely to lose its effectiveness and potency over time. That could pose a serious risk, especially to anyone relying on Ozempic to manage their blood sugar. Using expired Ozempic means you may not be able to control your Type 2 diabetes as well as you had been while taking the drug previously. 

If you think you might have taken expired Ozempic, Dr. Gray says it’s important to monitor yourself for symptoms of high blood sugar, like numerical changes in your blood glucose levels, nausea, and vomiting. It’s also a good idea to contact your prescribing healthcare provider and let them know that you may have used an expired pen. They may want you to monitor your blood sugar more closely or make other recommendations for ensuring your diabetes is managed until it’s time for your next dose. 

What should you do with expired Ozempic?

You should dispose of expired Ozempic the same way you dispose of any used or empty pens. Every time you open a new Ozempic pen, you’ll need to attach a new, disposable needle in order to inject yourself with a dose. And when it’s time to throw an expired or empty pen away, both the pen and the needle should be placed in a container approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the disposal of sharps, according to Dr. Staiger. 

If you don’t have an official FDA-approved sharps container, you can make your own by upcycling a heavy-duty, opaque plastic container with a secure, puncture-resistant lid. This container should be leak-resistant and able to stand upright while being filled. You should write “SHARPS—DO NOT RECYCLE” on the outside of the container with a permanent marker to make it clear it’s being used for sharps disposal. (Dr. Staiger says an old laundry detergent bottle, for example, is a good match for this criteria).

You’ll also have to be mindful of how to dispose of your sharps container once it’s full. Depending on where you live, you may then be able to throw this secured container out with your regular garbage, or you may need to follow a different disposal method. If you aren’t sure how your community handles needle disposal, you can search for your state’s guidelines online at the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal or inquire by calling 800-643-1643.

Bottom line

When stored properly, unopened Ozempic will last until its printed manufacturer expiration date. After opening, it will last for 56 days. Incorrectly storing Ozempic can affect its shelf life and may make the medication less effective, which means it may no longer be able to help you control your blood sugar. If you think you have used expired Ozempic, ask your healthcare provider how they want you to proceed with managing your diabetes until your next dose. 

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