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 MounjaroOzempicTrulicity, 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.

Keep Victoza Pen Cool with 4AllFamily Travel Coolers for Refrigerated drugs

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).

Related article: Does Insulin Really Need to Be Refrigerated?

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

 

Victoza storage temperatures

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.

Related article: How Does Mounjaro Work for Diabetes and Weight Loss?

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.

Related article: How to Store and Refrigerate Ozempic In All Situations?

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.

Frozen Victoza is not safe

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!

Related article: Why Does Trulicity Need to Be Refrigerated and How to Store your Injector Pens?

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.

4AllFamily Travel Coolers for Insulin, Victoza, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Byetta

Related article: How to Tavel and Fly With Your Victoza Pens?

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

Comments

4AllFamily Customer Care Team said:

Estimada Ana,
Victoza nunca debería estar a mas 30°C. Así que, una vez abierto, los bolis se pueden almacenar a temperatura ambiente de 59°F a 86°F (15°C a 30°C) o de nuevo en el refrigerador de 36°F a 46°F (2°C a 8°C).
Espero haberte contestado,
Un saludo,
4AllFamily Customer Care Team

Ana said:

Si hay días que la temperatura sube más de 30 grados y ya está en uso Victosa es recomendable ponerla en el refrigerador?

4AllFamily Customer Care Team said:

Dear Mark,
When a medication like Victoza reaches its expiration date, it is recommended to stop using. Expiration dates are established by the manufacturers through stability testing, which determines how long the drug maintains its potency and safety.
Using an expired Victoza pen does not pose an immediate danger, but it might not work as intended. The effectiveness can decrease after the expiration date, which could lead to poorer control of your blood sugar levels.
Therefore, it is generally best to avoid using expired medications. However, doctors and pharmacist all agree that a few days more or less shouldn’t impact your treatment, as the degradation is progressive of course.
I hope I’ve answered your question,
Best regards,
4AllFamily Customer Care Team

Mark D. said:

I have several Victoza pens that have reached their expiration date. 7/20203 I have never once found a single answer to this question. How much longer past the expiration date can you use the pens? Or, Do they need to be discarded immediately? I’ve still been using the one i have which is still half full. Am i doing something dangerous? Or, is it just less effective?

4AllFamily Customer Care Team said:

Dear Howard,
Thanks for reaching out. However, I regret to inform you that we cannot provide any information on the degree or rate of decline in the effectiveness of Victoza. Our company is not a medical company, and we do not run our own tests on the effectiveness of medications.
As you have rightly pointed out, regulations do not permit advice outside of approved channels and content, and we cannot provide any information that goes beyond that.
We advise you to contact your healthcare provider or a licensed pharmacist for any questions related to the effectiveness of Victoza.
Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards,
4AllFamily

e Howard Green said:

Users do understand that regulations do not permit advice outside of approved channels and content.
However, we know foods, flashlight batteries, and many things ‘fail’ gradually.
What can your company provide about the degree or rate of decline in the effectiveness of Victoza:
1. when at room temperature (60-75 degrees) for days 31-45 after being refrigerated?
2. any methods for users to measure the effectiveness for batches suspected of being at room temp for 5 days and then returned to the frig? (Assume power outage)
3. what is the loss of effectiveness boxes stored at temperatures between 44 and 55 over time?
4. when dispensed at a rate between 1.3 and 1.7? Why exactly 1.2 or 1.8?
Are there conditions where mishandling will increase the effectiveness, such that a lower dosage might be considered when discussing with one’s doctor?

4AllFamily Customer Care Team said:

Thank you Karol!

Karol Crombie said:

To the 4allfamily.com webmaster, Thanks for the well written post!

4AllFamily Customer Care Team said:

Hi Jimmy,
A rupture in the cold chain storage of temperature-sensitive medicines like Victoza can have serious consequences for the patients. Unfortunately, shipping companies don’t alway pay attention to temperature conditions during transportation. Have you contacted the manufacturer or the sipping company’s customer services to claim a reimbursement? Let us know if that worked out,
All the best,

Jimmy Wood said:

I have just received my second victoza in two months that is not effective. I have been taking victoza for several years . This has happened before. The pharmacist says that it probably got left ina hot warehouse during shipment.
I am tired of paying the high price for something that is useless.
I expect to be reimbursed or Two months victoza at no cost.

4AllFamily Customer Care Team said:

Hi Lydia,
Once out of the fridge, Victoza pens are good to use within 30 days.
Best regards,
4AllFamily Customer Care Team

4AllFamily Customer Care Team said:

Hi Carol,
There’s no danger as Victoza pens can stay out of the fridge for up to 30 days. You can safely use them within the next 30 days. Passed that time, their safety and effectiveness aren’t guaranteed anymore,
Best regards,
4AllFamily Customer Care Team

Lydia Breen said:

My unused Victoza was allowed to get to rm temp for 2 days. Is it still good??

4AllFamily Customer Care Team said:

Hi C Donovan,
Unfortunately, we have not received your first comment from a year ago. Could you please let us know what your question was?
All the best,
4AllFamily Customer Care Team

C Donovan said:

I wish someone had answered y. It’s almost a year later & I just used the wrong pen. I can’t find any info on what can actually happen or what to watch for. I hope it didn’t hurt you.

Carol morgan said:

I use victosa I injected myself last night not realising till the next that my fridge was off
What do I do is it dangerous to use today and what about the unopened ones in fridge

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