Understanding the storage and cooling needs for Type 2 diabetes injections like Victoza, Mounjaro, Ozempic, Trulicity, and Byetta is crucial, yet can seem complex.
Victoza, a non-insulin injectable medicine for diabetes under the GLP-1 drug class, notably enhances insulin production aiding in both blood sugar reduction and weight loss support. It's administered through a user-friendly daily injection pen.
Due to its vulnerability to temperatures, it's essential to know how to store your Victoza pens correctly at home and while traveling!
Related article: Insulin Storage Explained: Room Temperature vs. Refrigeration!
Does Victoza Need to be Refrigerated Before Opening?
Yes, Victoza needs to be refrigerated. The maker of Victoza, Novo Nordisk, issues specific storage instructions for Victoza pens.
- Before First Use: Store unopened pens in the refrigerator at temperatures between 2°C to 8°C.
- After Opening: Pens may be stored at room temperature, as long as the environment remains cooler than 30°C, and use should occur within 30 days.
Proper refrigeration and temperature control of Victoza are vital to avoid wasting the medication, protecting your health, and ensuring the effectiveness of your diabetes therapy. If you ever question the integrity of your medication, it's important to consult with your healthcare provider.
Victoza should also be shielded from direct sunlight and must not be frozen.
What happens if Victoza is not refrigerated
Victoza is a biologic drug and relies heavily on strict temperature control for its efficacy.
The active ingredient in Victoza injection pens is Liraglutide, a peptide comprised of amino acid chains similar to those found in body proteins. Like all proteins, Liraglutide can denature or lose its structural shape when not stored within its specified temperature range, compromising its biological activity.
The refrigeration of Victoza is critical as it preserves the stability of Liraglutide and minimizes chemical reactions that could lead to degradation and reduced potency of the medication. By maintaining Victoza under refrigeration, you help ensure that it keeps its structural and functional integrity, effectively managing blood sugar levels over time. This not only prolongs its shelf life but also maintains its therapeutic effectiveness up to its expiration date.
Does Victoza Need to Be Refrigerated After Opening?
While it is not mandatory to refrigerate Victoza pens after opening, it's important to manage their storage carefully.
Opened Victoza pens can be stored at room temperature, which can be more convenient. However, it is critical to ensure they are never exposed to temperatures over 30°C. And once out of the fridge, they should be used within a 30-day period.
Any Victoza pen that has been open or out of the fridge for more than 30 days, should be discarded, even if there is still medicine in the pen. Beyond this period, the effectiveness and safety of the medication are not guaranteed.
What to do if Victoza gets warm?
According to Novo Nordisk's guidelines, if your Victoza injection pen has been exposed to temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F), it should not be used. Discard the affected pen and use a new one from the refrigerator. Exposure to higher temperatures compromises the molecular stability of Liraglutide, the active ingredient, which may degrade the medication, reducing or eliminating its effectiveness in controlling blood sugar levels.
If you're ever uncertain about the condition of your Victoza pen, it's best to consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist to ensure that your medication is still safe to use.
How to Keep Victoza Cool While Traveling?
When traveling to warmer destinations or spending long periods outdoors, it's important to ensure your Victoza pens stay within the recommended temperature range, especially when temperatures exceed 30°C.
One of the best ways to protect your Victoza from heat during travel is by using a specialized travel cooler for medications.
Brands like 4AllFamily offer portable coolers specifically designed for medications like Victoza.
Some are like real mini fridges, capable of maintaining refrigerator temperatures (2°C to 8°C) for unopened pens, even without a power source.
Others are designed to provide a cool environment for in-use pens, keeping them in the safe room temperature range of 15°C to 30°C, protecting your medication from heat exposure while traveling.
Related article: Traveling with Insulin: How to Keep it Cool or Refrigerated?
Victoza Storage: FAQs
Can you freeze Victoza?
No, Victoza should never freeze. Freezing can irreparably damage the medication, rendering it ineffective and unsafe to use.
When Victoza is frozen, the active ingredient, Liraglutide, becomes unstable, potentially causing the medication to precipitate or change state. Even if thawed, a Victoza pen that has been frozen should be discarded and not used.
To prevent freezing, avoid placing Victoza pens near the freezer compartment of your refrigerator. In cold climates, keep your Victoza pen in an inner pocket close to your body, using your natural body heat to maintain a safe temperature.
When carrying Victoza pens in a travel cooler, ensure it includes anti-freeze protection, like those offered by 4AllFamily. Our medical coolers come with Biogel packs, which freeze at 2°C, a safe margin above Victoza’s freezing point of 0°C.
How to tell if Victoza is bad?
Victoza should appear as a clear, colorless liquid inside the injection pen. If the liquid becomes cloudy, changes color, or contains particles, it has likely gone bad and should be discarded immediately. Replace it with a new pen from your refrigerator.
What happens if you use expired Victoza?
Using expired Victoza can negatively impact your health and diabetes management. Over time, or if not stored at the correct temperatures, the medication’s active ingredient, Liraglutide, can break down and lose its effectiveness.
As a result, expired Victoza may not properly lower your blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of uncontrolled blood glucose and potential diabetes-related complications, such as nerve damage or cardiovascular issues.
To ensure your Victoza remains effective, it’s essential to monitor both the expiration date and the storage conditions.
Never use an injection pen past its expiration date, and if you're unsure of its quality, consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist for advice.
Share Your Insights With Us!
Feel free to leave a comment or ask any questions you have about storing and refrigerating Victoza pens. We're here to assist you and ensure you're confident in handling your medication properly. Let's learn and manage diabetes together!
