Storing and Traveling With GLP-1 Pens: What the Labels and TSA Say

Short answer: The Ozempic®, Wegovy® and Zepbound® labels say to keep unused pens in the refrigerator, at 36°F to 46°F, and never to freeze them. They also allow a set number of days out of the fridge, and the number differs by product and pen type. For flying, TSA says medically necessary liquids are allowed in reasonable quantities if you declare them at the checkpoint. This page summarizes those sources. Your Instructions for Use for your exact pen are the final word.

How should GLP-1 pens be stored?

Every label says to keep unused medicine cold, away from light, and unfrozen. The common points, from Section 16 of each label on DailyMed as of October 30, 2026:

• Refrigerator: 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
• Do not freeze: all three labels say not to use the medicine if it has been frozen. Ozempic and Wegovy add: not in the freezer or directly adjacent to the refrigerator cooling element.
• Original carton: keep it in the carton until use to protect it from light.
• Heat and light: protect from excessive heat and light.

How long can a pen stay out of the fridge?

Label allowances differ by product and pen type:

Product and pen type	Out-of-fridge allowance on the label
Ozempic pen (multi-dose), before first use	Refrigerate until the expiration date
Ozempic pen, after first use	56 days at 59°F to 86°F, or refrigerated; keep the cap on; store without a needle attached
Ozempic single-dose prefilled syringe	Up to 28 days at 46°F to 86°F
Wegovy single-dose pen or syringe	Before the cap is removed, 46°F to 86°F for up to 28 days
Wegovy FlexTouch pen (single-patient-use), after first use	56 days at 59°F to 86°F, or refrigerated
Zepbound single-dose pen or vial	Unrefrigerated at up to 86°F for up to a total of 21 days
Zepbound multi-dose vial or KwikPen, unopened	Throw away after 30 days at room temperature (up to 86°F)
Zepbound multi-dose vial or KwikPen, opened	Throw away after a total of 30 days at room temperature, 30 days after first use, or after taking 4 weekly doses, “even if there is medicine left in it”

The Wegovy tablets label has different storage rules: room temperature, in the original bottle, away from moisture. Mounjaro’s label has the same storage language as Zepbound’s.

What do the labels say about needles?

The Ozempic label says to remove and safely discard the needle after each injection, to store the pen without a needle attached, and to use a new needle for each injection. For disposal, see GLP-1 pen and needle disposal.

Can you fly with a GLP-1 pen?

TSA, the Transportation Security Administration, says on its liquid medications page: “TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip” but “you must declare them to TSA officers at the checkpoint for inspection.” The page lists carry-on bags as “Yes (Special Instructions)” and checked bags as “Yes.”

On unused syringes, TSA says they “are allowed when accompanied by injectable medication” and must be declared. It also says “we recommend, but do not require, that your medications be labeled.” The final decision rests with the TSA officer at the checkpoint.

The labels’ temperature limits still apply in transit, so a checked bag in a cargo hold is a different setting from a carry-on. Ask your pharmacist or the maker’s information line how to keep your own pen within its label range on your trip. The FDA adds a reminder for used pens and needles: “DO carry a portable sharps disposal container for travel.”

How can you keep your supplies organized?

When a pen has a label-limited window out of the fridge, a note with the date you first used it or took it out of cold storage helps you keep track. Weeko, a shot tracker coming to iPhone and Android, is being built around this kind of simple log. It is a logbook, not medical guidance, and it does not replace the storage limits on your label. For where on the body the labels say to inject, see GLP-1 injection sites.

When to call your doctor

Ask your pharmacist or prescriber what to do if a pen was frozen, left in heat, or its storage time is unclear. The labels say not to use a frozen pen. Do not guess about medicine you are unsure about.