# How to Find the Right Storage Instructions for Your GLP-1

Where storage instructions for your GLP-1 actually live, why the same brand has different rules by presentation, and who to ask when yours is compounded.

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Prepared by [Ēlovi Editorial](https://joinelovi.com/blog/authors/elovi-editorial).
Published: 2026-10-09T14:40:00.000Z. Updated: 2026-10-09T14:40:00.000Z.
Prepared by Ēlovi Editorial with AI assistance. Sources checked: 2026-10-09. Reviewed by the Ēlovi editorial team, which includes licensed clinicians.
[Editorial process](https://joinelovi.com/blog/editorial-policy).

## The short answer

Use the instructions for the exact product in your hands: the leaflets that came with it, the label your pharmacy printed, and, for an approved brand, section 16 of its prescribing information. Storage limits differ even within one brand. Wegovy's label gives a different rule for single-dose pens and syringes, FlexTouch pens, and tablets. If your medicine is compounded, the pharmacy that prepared it is the source, and no brand's limits apply to it.

## Where do the right storage instructions for my GLP-1 come from?

They come from the documents written for your exact product. Check them in this order:

1. **What came in the box.** For approved products, the manufacturer's labeling tells patients to read the Medication Guide and the Instructions for Use. [1](https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf) [2](https://pi.lilly.com/us/zepbound-uspi.pdf) MedlinePlus says you are given the Medication Guide, and instructions for use come with the medicine. [3](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a618008.html) [4](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a622044.html)
2. **The label your pharmacy printed.** It names the product you were dispensed. It is the best way to match the right set of instructions to the right device.
3. **The prescribing information, section 16.** For an approved brand, the "How Supplied/Storage and Handling" section is the full list of limits. [1](https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf) [2](https://pi.lilly.com/us/zepbound-uspi.pdf) You can find current labels by searching a drug name or manufacturer on NLM's DailyMed. [6](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/help.cfm)
4. **Your pharmacist or prescriber.** MedlinePlus tells you to ask your doctor or pharmacist when the leaflet leaves a gap, such as how long a semaglutide pen may stay at room temperature. [3](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a618008.html)

If the written instructions are missing, damaged, or do not match what you were given, do not guess. Call the pharmacy.

## Why does "I take Wegovy" or "I take Zepbound" not settle it?

Because one brand can carry several storage rules, depending on the presentation. The table shows only what the labels say; it is not a rule for any other product.

| Presentation (as labeled) | Before first use | Other limits the label states |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy single-dose pen or syringe | Refrigerator, 36°F to 46°F | If needed, before the cap is removed, 46°F to 86°F for up to 28 days; discard after use [1](https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf) |
| Wegovy FlexTouch single-patient-use pen | Refrigerator, 36°F to 46°F | After first use, up to 56 days at 59°F to 86°F or in the refrigerator; keep the cap on [1](https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf) |
| Wegovy tablets | Room temperature, 68°F to 77°F | Keep in the original bottle, in a dry place away from moisture [1](https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf) |
| Zepbound single-dose pen or vial | Refrigerator, 36°F to 46°F | Up to a total of 21 days not above 86°F; discard after that [2](https://pi.lilly.com/us/zepbound-uspi.pdf) |
| Zepbound multi-dose vial or KwikPen | Refrigerator, 36°F to 46°F | Opened ones are discarded at the earliest of 30 total days at room temperature, 30 days after first use, or four weekly doses [2](https://pi.lilly.com/us/zepbound-uspi.pdf) |

The same label can tell you to refrigerate one presentation and keep another at room temperature. Both labels also say not to freeze the medicine or use it if it has been frozen. [1](https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf) [2](https://pi.lilly.com/us/zepbound-uspi.pdf)

For how these limits play out on a trip, see our [travel preparation checklist](https://joinelovi.com/blog/traveling-with-glp-1-medication-a-preparation-checklist).

## What if my GLP-1 is compounded?

Then the brand labels above do not apply to you. The FDA says compounded drugs are not FDA approved, so the agency does not review them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. [5](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss) Evidence and labeling for a brand do not transfer to a compounded preparation. Our [compounded versus brand-name guide](https://joinelovi.com/blog/compounded-vs-brand-name-glp-1) explains the difference.

The FDA's advice for questions about instructions for use or label information is to contact the compounder who made the drug or the telehealth platform where you bought it. [5](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss) It also lists warning signs, including medicine that arrives with broken or damaged packaging or no instructions for use, or labels with spelling errors or an incorrect pharmacy address. [5](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss) If any of those describe your delivery, contact the pharmacy and your prescriber before using it. Our [questions to ask a compounding pharmacy](https://joinelovi.com/blog/questions-to-ask-about-a-compounding-pharmacy) lists what to request.

## What should I ask my pharmacy to write down?

Use this worksheet. Every row is a question for your own prescriber or pharmacy, not a recommendation.

| Ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What exactly was I dispensed: product, device, and strength on the label? | Storage rules attach to the presentation, not just the name |
| Where do I store it before the first use, and where afterward? | Some products change rules once opened |
| How long may it stay at room temperature, and how do I count the days? | The count may include time before it reached you or while traveling |
| What do I do if it was frozen, got hot, or I am unsure? | Labels say not to use frozen medicine; you need a named person to call |
| Who do I contact with questions, and how? | For compounded products, this is the compounding pharmacy |

Keep the answers with your medication list. If you are still early in treatment, our [first 90 days planner](https://joinelovi.com/blog/starting-glp-1) covers who to contact and when, and our [follow-up appointment guide](https://joinelovi.com/blog/preparing-for-your-glp-1-follow-up-appointment) shows how to bring questions to a short visit.

## Common questions

### Can I use my friend's or a neighbor's storage tips?

No. Their product, device, or pharmacy may differ from yours. The labels also say never to share pens. [1](https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf) [4](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a622044.html)

### Is a general website enough?

Use it to know what to ask, not to set your limits. MedlinePlus itself tells you to check with your doctor or pharmacist for details such as room-temperature time. [3](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a618008.html)

### Does this change if I switch providers or pharmacies?

It can. A different product or pharmacy may come with different instructions, so confirm them again.

## References

1. [Wegovy \(semaglutide\) injection and tablets: Prescribing Information](https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf) — Novo Nordisk
2. [Zepbound \(tirzepatide\) Prescribing Information](https://pi.lilly.com/us/zepbound-uspi.pdf) — Eli Lilly
3. [Semaglutide Injection](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a618008.html) — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
4. [Tirzepatide Injection](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a622044.html) — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
5. [FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
6. [DailyMed - Help](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/help.cfm) — National Library of Medicine

For general education; this does not replace medical advice or an individual evaluation. Talk to your clinician before starting, changing, or stopping treatment. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.