Victoza Storage: What really happens if Victoza is not refrigerated?

If you’re one of the 4 million Americans who’s been prescribed Victoza this year, your healthcare provider has probably warned you about its specific storage requirements.

Victoza is one of the non-insulin drugs used in Type 2 Diabetes management, along with Mounjaro, Ozempic, Trulicity, and Byetta. With healthy diet and regular physical exercise, it helps lower blood sugar levels. The injectable medicine is highly sensitive to temperature changes and to extreme temperatures. Here’s a series of frequently asked questions about storing Victoza.

Does Victoza Need to be Refrigerated?

Yes. Victoza is a temperature-sensitive drug that needs to be refrigerated when not in use. New unused Victoza pens must be kept at fridge temperature 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). After first use, Victoza pens can be stored out of the fridge for up to 30 days but must always be kept below 86°F (30°C).

What exactly are Victoza storage recommendations?

Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of Victoza and numerous other diabetes drugs, recommends you follow these storage guidelines:

Prior to first use, unopened Victoza pens must be stored in the fridge at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
After first use, opened Victoza pens must be protected from the heat and kept below 86°F (30°C) for a maximum of 30 days.
Victoza also needs to be protected from excessive sunlight

Why does victoza require refrigeration?

Victoza is a biologic drug, highly sensitive to extreme temperatures. The fragile injectable diabetes medicine quickly deteriorates if exposed to temperatures above 86°F (30°C) or below 36°F(2°C).

If it gets too warm or too cold, Liraglutide, the active ingredient in Victoza for diabetes and Saxenda for weight loss, loses its effectiveness and cannot be used anymore.

Does victoza have to be refrigerated even after opening?

Not necessarily. After first use, once opened, Victoza does not need to be refrigerated. However, it needs to be protected from the heat. Opened Victoza pens must always be kept below 86°F (30°C).

They can be stored either at room temperature 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C) or back in the fridge 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). In any case, once opened Victoza should be used or thrown away within 30 days.

How long does Victoza pen last if stored properly?

Like any other drugs, Victoza has a limited shelf life. Check on the box the expiration date for each of your Victoza pens. If stored in the fridge, your pens are safe to use until their expiration date. Once opened and out of the fridge, Victoza pens only last for a maximum of 30 days (if stored properly and protected from the heat!).

How long does Victoza last in the fridge?

Prior to first use, a Victoza pen lasts in the fridge until its expiration date. The expiration date is printed on the pen and on the carton box. After first use, a Victoza pen only lasts 30 days, even if stored back in the fridge.

How long can Victoza stay out of the fridge without going bad?

30 days. Victoza can stay out of the fridge for a maximum of 30 days. During this time, it should be protected from temperatures above 86°F (30°C). After 30 days out of the fridge, the manufacturer does not guarantee any effectiveness as laboratory tests have shown that Victoza starts deteriorating. Passing that time, you should throw your Victoza pen away, even if there’s still medicine inside.

What about Frozen Victoza?

Like insulin, Victoza should never be frozen. Once your Victoza pen has frozen, it’s not safe for use anymore. Frozen Victoza breaks down and loses its effectiveness. First, you won’t even be able to inject frozen Victoza as it will be solid. But even if thawed afterwards, Victoza that has been frozen, even for a short period of time only, has already gone bad. You should immediately throw the thawed pen away.

To protect Victoza from freezing hazards, be careful not to store it too close to the freezer compartments. If you’re traveling to extremely cold whether places, keep your Victoza pen close to your body, in the interior pocket of you jacket for example. Your body warmth should be enough to prevent it from freezing.

If you’re using a medicine travel cooler to carry your Victoza pens under hot weather, be sure it has an anti-freeze safety.

What to do if Victoza gets warm?

According to Novo Nordisk’s storage recommendations, if your Victoza pen has been exposed to temperature over 86°F (30°C), you should not use it. Throw your pen away and get a new one from the fridge.

Now, don’t overreact and panic. If your pen has been exposed to temperature over 86°F (30°C) for 3 minutes, it’s probably fine!

What to do if you’ve left your Victoza in a hot car?

Liraglutide, the scientific name of Victoza, is prescribed to more than 4 million Americans each year. Needless to say, you won’t be the only one to forget your Victoza pen in your car on a sunny day!

If it has been left in a hot car, chances your Victoza pen has reached temperatures over 86°F (30°C) are very high. In that case, it’s not safe for use anymore. Get a new pen from home or from the nearest pharmacy.

How to keep Victoza Cold while traveling?

Whether you’re traveling to warm destinations, or simply spending the day outdoor with temperatures rising above 86°F (30°C), you need to protect your in-use Victoza pens from the heat.

The most efficient and practical way to keep Victoza cold while traveling is to use a medicine travel cooler like the ones from 4AllFamily.

Depending on what your needs are, our medical-grade portable coolers can keep your stocks of unopened Victoza pens at fridge temperature for multiple days with or without power! They can also simply keep your Victoza protected from the heat in the safe range of 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C) for extended periods of time.

How to tell if Victoza has gone bad?

Like insulin, Victoza is a colourless liquid injectable medicine. If the liquid inside your injection pen looks cloudy, has changed color, or has particles in it, it has gone bad. When in doubt, throw your pen away and get a new one. Injecting medicine that has gone bad can have extremely serious consequences for your health.

If you’re experiencing unusual high blood glucose levels despite injecting your usual units of Victoza, it could be a sign that your medicine has gone bad. When in doubt, discard your current pen and get a new one.

Related article: How to Tell If Insulin Has Gone Bad?

Share your bits of advice and experiences too! Have you ever experienced Victoza that has gone bad? What did it look like? What have you done?

July 09, 2021

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