Ozempic: How to properly store your medication

When embarking on a journey to lose weight and manage your body weight, you may wonder about starting a medically-backed weight loss drug, such as Ozempic.

These weight management and weight loss tools are great for shedding those extra pounds. But there are a few key things to consider before starting, such as how they'll fit into your lifestyle, how to store them properly, and even how to store the medication while travelling.

We've put together a comprehensive guide covering all the critical details of GLP-1 medication storage, ensuring that you know how to maintain the effectiveness of these weight loss drugs while you focus on your journey towards a healthier you.

What is Ozempic?

• Ozempic is part of a family of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists
• Who they're suited to: In Canada, Ozempic is approved for treating type 2 diabetes, but in recent times, it has been prescribed off-label for weight loss treatment [1]
• What's inside: Ozempic, like Wegovy, contain the active ingredient semaglutide [3]
• When to take them: Ozempic is taken once a week [5]

Side effects: Common side effects of Ozempic (semaglutide) include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Stomach pain

Less common but serious side effects can include pancreatitis, kidney problems, and possible allergic reactions. Always consult a healthcare provider for a comprehensive understanding of potential side effects.

How do Wegovy and Ozempic work?

Ozempic works by mimicking the effects of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1 [8], which helps in regulating blood sugar levels and effectively reduces appetite.

The active ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, is designed to respond when your blood sugar rises, helping your body to release insulin.

It works in 3 ways to lower blood sugar:

1. It helps your pancreas produce more insulin when your blood sugar is high, which helps to lower blood sugar levels
2. It helps prevent your liver from making and releasing too much sugar, and
3. It slows down food leaving your stomach

Taking semaglutide also helps to promote a feeling of satiety and suppress appetite. This is why it works for weight loss. Not only does semaglutide help to lower blood glucose levels when used along with diet and exercise, but it may also reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or complications due to high blood pressure [9].

While Ozempic is suitable for many, it may not be the best option for some people, particularly if you or a family member has medullary thyroid carcinoma, are at high risk of developing thyroid cancer, have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or have complications regarding the pancreas.

How does Mounjaro work?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) works slightly differently to Ozempic as it contains the dual-action treatment of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.

While Ozempic mimics the GLP-1 hormone, Mounjaro harnesses both the GLP-1 and GIP hormones to help promote fat loss, block fat gain, and regulate blood sugar levels.

By combining the effects of GIP and GLP-1, Mounjaro is more effective at promoting weight loss through decreased appetite, as well as directly impacting the pathways that lead to fat loss.

To simplify this a bit, this medication helps to reduce your appetite (making you feel fuller far more quickly), assists with turning down cravings, helps improve blood glucose levels and stimulates the breakdown of fat.

Ozempic vs Wegovy vs Mounjaro for weight loss

All of these medications tend to produce impressive weight loss results.

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, has been shown to effectively support weight loss, with clinical trials proving to be quite promising. In previous studies, those who took higher-dose GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic) experienced notably greater weight loss than those who were given a placebo.

The study from 2021 looked at 1,961 obese and overweight adults who were randomly assigned the GLP-1 injections or a placebo. After 68 weeks, those taking the GLP-1 lost an average of 15.3kg, whereas the placebo group lost an average of 2.6kg.

Plus, these medications have demonstrated the ability to enhance other health indicators like blood pressure and cholesterol levels and can be great in maintaining a healthier low blood sugar level.

Mounjaro has also demonstrated impressive weight loss results.

One study of over 2,500 patients from July 2022 found an average of up to 20.9% body weight loss in patients on GLP-1/GIP after 72 weeks. In the same study, up to 90.9% of patients were able to achieve at least 5% weight loss, up to 83.5% were able to achieve at least 10% weight loss, and 56.7% were able to achieve at least 20% weight loss in 72 weeks of treatment [12].

While all these medications are excellent tools for weight management, it's important to understand that they aren't a magical solution of their own. To get the best outcomes, it should be used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise.

How is Ozempic best stored?

Once you have a prescription for Ozempic, it's important to learn how to store it correctly. While these steps can be quite simple, they're crucial to keeping the active ingredient in Ozempic safe and effective [5]:

• If you haven't used the Ozempic pen yet, store it in the fridge at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C.
• Don't freeze the Ozempic pen, and don't use it if it's been frozen.
• You can keep unused Ozempic pens in the fridge until the expiration date on the label. Remember, after 56 days, even if there's medicine left, you should dispose of the pen.
• When keeping Ozempic in the fridge, don't put it directly next to the cooling part. Keep it away from heat and light, and don't leave it in a car where temperatures can get too hot or cold.

It's important to follow these storage rules to ensure Ozempic works well and stays safe. If you're unsure about anything related to storing Ozempic, it's best to ask a trusted healthcare provider.

How should you store Ozempic when travelling?

When you're travelling with weight loss injections, it's important to store them correctly to maintain their effectiveness.

Here are some helpful tips for storing these injections while you're on the go:

• If you're travelling to places with cold weather, it's a good idea to keep your injection pens close to your body, like in an inside pocket. This helps prevent them from freezing.
• If your medications need to be kept cold, consider using a medical-grade cooler or an insulated bag designed for this purpose. You can also use small lunch bags if you line them with ice packs.
• Make sure to keep an eye on the temperature inside the cooler or bag. If it gets too warm, it's not safe to store the medications there, as it could damage or spoil them.
• Always bring the cooler bag with your injections as part of your carry-on luggage. Putting it in checked luggage might lead to freezing, which can harm the medication.
• When you're going through airport security, be sure to tell customs about any medications you have, including your weight loss injections. You will likely need to present a medical certificate from your healthcare professional [13], so it's important to organize these before you leave.
• If refrigeration isn't possible, pack some resealable sandwich bags in your luggage. You can use them with ice packs to keep the injections cool.

As you embark on your weight loss journey, it's essential to prioritize proper storage of your injections while travelling. By ensuring the effectiveness of your medications, you're taking a positive step for both your physical well-being and mental health.

Be sure to always follow recommended guidelines and consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for any additional advice on storing weight loss injections while on the move.

How long can weight loss injections stay out of the fridge?

An Ozempic pen is still okay to use after 6 weeks after its initial use, and the good news is that it can be kept outside the refrigerator as long as it's stored at room temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C [14]. Remember, even if there's medicine left, the pen should still be discarded after 56 days.

If Ozempic has been kept at room temperature before its first use, it must be discarded, and it's advisable to contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider for further guidance.

Always follow the storage instructions provided by the medication manufacturer and consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist for any additional advice regarding storing your medication.

When you're on a journey to better health and weight loss, it's key to consider all aspects that contribute to your success. While both semaglutide and tirzepatide are great for helping you shed pounds, they're best used in combination with a lower-calorie diet, increased physical activity, and comprehensive support for lifestyle changes.

A holistic approach to your weight loss journey ensures your overall success. Juniper arms you with not only scientifically-backed medications but also the support you need to be successful on your weight loss journey.

Kickstart your weight loss journey with Ozempic, a groundbreaking weight loss injection that mimics the GLP-1 hormone to help control cravings, delay stomach emptying, and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

We’re in it with you for the long run, having helped thousands of women achieve their weight loss goals. With Juniper, you’ll have regular access to a team of health professionals who are here to listen, guide and help unlock a healthier you.

Image credit: Team Juniper