How to Store and Use a Semaglutide Pen (From the Label)
What the FDA-approved labels actually say about refrigerating, warming, injecting, disposing of and spotting counterfeit Ozempic and Wegovy pens.
Semaglutides.org is for information only and is not medical advice. Always talk to a licensed healthcare provider about your own care. Some links to telehealth services are affiliate links, labeled where they appear.
Most of the practical questions about semaglutide pens have precise answers, and they are printed in the FDA-approved prescribing information. This guide pulls those answers together: how cold, how long, where to inject, what to do with the pen afterward, and how to tell a genuine pen from a counterfeit one.
Your own prescriber’s instructions come first. This is what the labels say.
Which semaglutide pens are we talking about?
There are several, and they have different rules:
- Ozempic multi-dose pen - four weekly doses per pen, for type 2 diabetes [1]
- Ozempic single-dose prefilled syringe - one dose, four per carton, at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg [1]
- Wegovy single-dose pen - one dose per pen, four per carton, in six strengths for weight management [2]
- Wegovy single-dose prefilled syringe - approved May 2026; Novo Nordisk’s consumer site said it was not yet available at pharmacies [4]
- Wegovy FlexTouch single-patient-use pen - one device holding four weekly 2.4 mg doses [2]
The labels tell prescribers to make sure patients know which Wegovy presentation they will receive and to retrain them if the presentation changes, because the handling is genuinely different [2].
How should you store an Ozempic pen?
Before first use: refrigerate at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius (36 to 46 Fahrenheit) until the printed expiration date. Do not put it in the freezer or directly against the refrigerator’s cooling element. Keep it in the original carton until you are ready to inject [1].
After first use: the pen can be stored for 56 days at controlled room temperature, 15 to 30 degrees Celsius (59 to 86 Fahrenheit), or back in the refrigerator at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius [1].
Fifty-six days is eight weeks, which is longer than the four doses in the pen will last. In practice the pen runs out before the clock does.
Other label instructions: do not freeze and do not use it if it has been frozen. Protect it from excessive heat and sunlight. Keep the pen cap on when you are not using it. Always remove and safely discard the needle after each injection and store the pen with no needle attached, and always use a new needle for each injection [1].
Ozempic prefilled syringes follow a shorter rule: refrigerate at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, or if needed keep at 8 to 30 degrees Celsius (46 to 86 Fahrenheit) for up to 28 days. Protect from light, keep in the original carton, and discard the syringe after use [1].
How should you store a Wegovy pen?
Single-dose pens and single-dose syringes: refrigerate at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius (36 to 46 Fahrenheit). If needed, before the cap is removed, the pen or syringe can be kept at 8 to 30 degrees Celsius (46 to 86 Fahrenheit) for up to 28 days. Protect from light, keep in the original carton until it is time to inject, and discard after use [2].
Wegovy FlexTouch multi-dose pen: refrigerate at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius before first use. After first use it can be stored for 56 days at 15 to 30 degrees Celsius (59 to 86 Fahrenheit) or refrigerated. Protect from excessive heat and light, keep the cap on when not in use, remove and safely discard the needle after each injection, store the pen without a needle attached, and use a new needle each time [2].
Both labels say: do not freeze, do not use if frozen, and do not store the product directly next to the refrigerator’s cooling element [2].
Novo Nordisk’s consumer guidance adds a comfort tip: some people let the pen sit out to reach room temperature before injecting, with the cap on [3].
How do you inject a Wegovy single-dose pen?
Novo Nordisk’s consumer instructions break it into five steps [3]:
1. Get ready. Gather the pen, an alcohol swab or soap and water, a gauze pad or cotton ball, and an FDA-cleared sharps container. Wash your hands.
Do not use the pen if it looks as though it has already been used, if any part looks broken, if the medicine in the window is not clear and colorless, or if the expiration date has passed. Air bubbles in the window are normal.
2. Choose the site. The abdomen (at least 2 inches from the navel), the front of the thigh, or the upper arm. Make sure you can see the pen window while injecting. Avoid skin that is tender, bruised, red or hard, and avoid scars and stretch marks. You can use the same body area each week but not the exact same spot. Clean the site and let it dry without touching it.
3. Remove the cap. Pull it straight off. The needle is hidden, so you do not see or handle it. Do not press on the needle cover.
4. Inject. Push the pen firmly against the skin and keep the pressure on. The injection has started when the yellow bar in the window begins to move. You will hear two clicks. The second click does not mean you are done. Keep pressing until the yellow bar stops moving, which takes about 5 to 10 seconds. The yellow bar will not fill the whole window at the end.
If medicine appears on the skin or squirts out, the pen was probably lifted too early or not pressed firmly enough, and you may not have received the full dose.
5. Dispose of it. See the section below.
If blood appears at the site afterward, press lightly with a gauze pad or cotton ball.
How do you dispose of used pens?
Not in household trash or recycling. The label and Novo Nordisk’s consumer guidance both say to use either [3]:
- An FDA-cleared sharps disposal container, or
- A sturdy household container with a tight-fitting lid, such as a heavy-duty plastic container, clearly marked as containing hazardous waste
Novo Nordisk offers a complimentary sharps disposal container. Rules for disposing of the full container vary by city and state; safeneedledisposal.org lists local drop-off options [3].
For multi-dose pens, remove and discard the needle after every injection and store the pen without a needle attached. This reduces the chance of contamination, infection and leakage, and helps dosing accuracy [1][2].
Why should you never share a pen?
This one is not optional. Both the Ozempic and Wegovy labels carry a specific warning that a pen must never be shared between patients, even if the needle is changed, because of the risk of transmitting blood-borne pathogens [1][2]. The warning was extended to the Wegovy FlexTouch pen in the June 2026 label update [2][6].
The Wegovy label also notes that FlexTouch is not recommended for self-administration by people with visual impairment unless a healthcare provider determines they can use it properly [2].
What if you miss a dose?
Wegovy injection: the label says if one dose is missed and the next scheduled dose is more than 2 days (48 hours) away, take the missed dose as soon as possible. If the next dose is less than 2 days away, skip it and resume on the regular day. If two or more consecutive doses are missed, the label says to restart dose escalation at a lower dose to reduce gastrointestinal side effects [2].
Ozempic injection: the label says if a dose is missed, take it within 5 days of the missed dose [1].
Wegovy or Ozempic tablets: skip the missed dose and take the next dose the following day [2].
If you are unsure, call your prescriber or pharmacist rather than guessing.
How many doses are in a pen, and how do cartons work?
| Product | Doses per device | Per carton |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy single-dose pen | 1 | 4 pens, all the same strength |
| Wegovy FlexTouch | 4 doses of 2.4 mg | 1 pen |
| Ozempic 2 mg/3 mL pen | 4 doses of 0.25 mg then 2 of 0.5 mg, or 4 of 0.5 mg | 1 pen + 6 needles |
| Ozempic 4 mg/3 mL pen | 4 doses of 1 mg | 1 pen + 4 needles |
| Ozempic 8 mg/3 mL pen | 4 doses of 2 mg | 1 pen + 4 needles |
| Ozempic prefilled syringe | 1 | 4 syringes |
Ozempic cartons include NovoFine Plus needles. Wegovy single-dose pens do not need separate needles at all; the FlexTouch pen does.
How do you tell a genuine pen from a counterfeit?
FDA has issued three alerts about counterfeit Ozempic 1 mg reaching the legitimate US supply chain [5]:
| Date | Counterfeit identifiers |
|---|---|
| December 2023 | Lot NAR0074, serial 430834149057. Analysis found the needles were also counterfeit, so sterility could not be confirmed |
| April 2025 | Lot PAR0362, serial numbers beginning 51746517. Several hundred units seized April 9, 2025 |
| December 2025 | Lot PAR1229 - an authentic lot number reused on fakes |
Because the December 2025 counterfeits copied a real lot number, FDA gave a different tell: on an authentic Ozempic pen the EXP/LOT text appears above the expiration date and lot number, while the counterfeit prints it to the left [5].
FDA’s advice to patients is straightforward:
- Get the medicine only with a valid prescription from a state-licensed pharmacy
- Check the product before using it for any signs of counterfeiting
- Confirm that the NDC printed on the carton and pen matches the dose and pack you were prescribed
- Pharmacies should buy only from Novo Nordisk authorized distributors
For Wegovy, Novo Nordisk’s own checks are the same practical ones: the medicine should be clear and colorless through the window, nothing should look used or broken, and the expiration date should be in the future. If a pen seems wrong, keep it and all the packaging and call Novo Nordisk customer care rather than throwing it away, because a discarded pen limits their ability to investigate or replace it [3].
Report suspected counterfeits to FDA’s MedWatch program, and call Novo Nordisk customer care at 1-800-727-6500 with questions about a specific lot [5].
How is storing a tirzepatide pen different?
If you are handling Zepbound or Mounjaro rather than a semaglutide product, the tirzepatide labels split the rules by presentation [7]:
- Single-dose pen or single-dose vial: refrigerate at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. It may be kept unrefrigerated at no more than 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) for a total of 21 days, then must be discarded. Once it has been stored at room temperature it should not go back in the refrigerator.
- Multi-dose vial or single-patient-use KwikPen: refrigerate unopened until the printed expiration date. If stored unopened at room temperature, discard after 30 days. Once in use, the label says to store it refrigerated or at room temperature and to discard it after a total of 30 days at room temperature, 30 days after first use, or after four weekly doses, whichever comes first - even if medicine is left in it.
Twenty-one days is five weeks less room-temperature time than an Ozempic pen gets, and it is an easy detail to get wrong when switching products.
Sources
- OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection - US Prescribing Information, Novo Nordisk
- WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and tablets - US Prescribing Information, Novo Nordisk
- Wegovy Pen Guide and Dosing Information - Novo Nordisk
- FAQs About Wegovy - Novo Nordisk
- FDA warns consumers not to use counterfeit Ozempic found in U.S. drug supply chain - US Food and Drug Administration
- WEGOVY semaglutide injection - DailyMed label record
- ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) injection - DailyMed label
This article is general information, not medical advice. Follow the Instructions for Use that came with your specific product and talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist with any questions.
Questions people ask
How long can an Ozempic pen stay out of the refrigerator?
The label says that after first use an Ozempic multi-dose pen can be stored for up to 56 days at controlled room temperature, 15 to 30 degrees Celsius (59 to 86 Fahrenheit), or back in the refrigerator. Before first use it should be refrigerated at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius until the expiration date.
How long can a Wegovy pen be out of the fridge?
The label says a Wegovy single-dose pen or single-dose syringe should be refrigerated at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, but before the cap is removed it can be kept at 8 to 30 degrees Celsius (46 to 86 Fahrenheit) for up to 28 days. The multi-dose Wegovy FlexTouch pen is different: after first use it can be stored for 56 days at 15 to 30 degrees Celsius or refrigerated.
What happens if my pen freezes?
Both labels say clearly not to freeze the medicine and not to use it if it has been frozen. They also say not to store it directly against the refrigerator's cooling element, which is a common way pens freeze by accident.
Do I need to prime a Wegovy pen?
No. The Wegovy single-dose pen has a hidden, built-in needle. There is nothing to attach and no priming step. The multi-dose Wegovy FlexTouch pen and the Ozempic pen do use separate needles that you attach and remove for each injection.
How many doses are in one pen?
Each Wegovy single-dose pen holds exactly one dose, and a carton contains four pens of the same strength. Ozempic maintenance pens hold four weekly doses each; the 2 mg/3 mL starter pen holds four 0.25 mg doses followed by two 0.5 mg doses. The Wegovy FlexTouch multi-dose pen holds four 2.4 mg doses.
Where do you inject a semaglutide pen?
The labels say to inject under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. Novo Nordisk's consumer guidance adds staying at least 2 inches away from the navel, avoiding skin that is tender, bruised, red, hard, scarred or marked with stretch marks, and using a different spot each week even within the same body area.
How do I throw away used pens?
Not in household trash or recycling. Use an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container, or a sturdy household container with a tight-fitting lid clearly labeled as containing hazardous waste. Novo Nordisk offers a complimentary sharps container, and safeneedledisposal.org lists local drop-off rules.
How can I tell if an Ozempic pen is counterfeit?
FDA's December 2025 alert said that on an authentic Ozempic pen the EXP/LOT text appears above the expiration date and lot number, while the counterfeits printed it to the left. Known counterfeit lots are NAR0074, PAR0362 with serials beginning 51746517, and PAR1229. Fill only at state-licensed pharmacies and check that the NDC on the carton matches your dose.
This article summarizes FDA labeling, published research and company information current as of September 14, 2026. It is not medical advice and does not replace a conversation with your own healthcare provider. How we research and verify.