Saxenda is a globally available weight-loss injectable medication that's extensively prescribed in Germany.
Despite its effectiveness, many users are unclear about how to store their Saxenda pens, and research indicates a widespread lack of awareness. Yet, proper storage temperatures are crucial to maintain the efficacy of your weight-loss injections.
The key component in Saxenda, Liraglutide, is a biological drug highly sensitive to temperature changes, degrading swiftly if not stored correctly. So, let's answer all your questions about Saxenda storage at home and while traveling!
- Why does Saxenda need refrigeration?
- How long are Saxenda pens good for?
- How to store your pens at room temperature?
- How to keep Saxenda cool while traveling?
Check out the video below: All you need to know about Victoza Storage and Refrigeration!
What is Saxenda?
Saxenda is an injectable medication prescribed for weight loss, forming part of a comprehensive management strategy that includes a low-calorie diet and increased exercise.
Suitable for adults and teenagers with obesity, as well as adults with weight-related health issues, Saxenda contains Liraglutide as its main active ingredient. Liraglutide is also used under the brand name Victoza for treating type 2 diabetes.
Saxenda injections for weight-loss function primarily by reducing appetite. Liraglutide acts as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, enhancing insulin secretion, promoting satiety, and slowing digestion to curb hunger and aid in weight management.
Saxenda is administered through daily subcutaneous injections with easy-to-use prefilled injection pens and requires medical supervision due to its prescription-only status.
Related article: Wegovy Storage Temperature: How to Best Store Your Wegovy Pens!
Does Saxenda Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes, Saxenda needs to be refrigerated. As a biological drug, or biopharmaceutical, it is produced using living systems such as animal or plant cells, or microorganisms, making it particularly sensitive and unstable.
Refrigerating Saxenda helps prevent rapid deterioration and extend its effectiveness.
However, there is some flexibility with Saxenda; it can stay unrefrigerated for up to 30 days without losing potency, according to laboratory tests. Let's delve into the specifics of proper storage temperatures and instructions for Saxenda.
Saxenda Storage Temperatures
According to Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Saxenda, unused Saxenda pens must be stored "in the refrigerator 2°C to 8°C."
After first use or removal from the fridge, Saxenda pens can be placed back in the refrigerator "or stored at room temperature between 15°C to 30°C". In both cases, they must be used within 30 days maximum.
In other words, this is how to store your Saxenda pens:
- Unopened Saxenda pens: store in the fridge until first use or expiration date.
- Opened Saxenda pens: store in the fridge or at room temperature and use within 30 days maximum.
How Long Does Saxenda Last in the Fridge?
If correctly stored in the refrigerator, Saxenda pens last until their expiration date. Each pen comes with its own expiration date, labelled by the manufacturer.
For optimal refrigeration, maintain your refrigerator's temperature consistently between 2°C and 8°C, so it's as stable as possible. To achieve the best conditions:
- Store your Saxenda pens in the center of the fridge, steering clear of the bottom, sides, and door shelves to minimize exposure to inconsistent temperatures.
- Limit fridge door openings.
- Keep Saxenda pens away from the freezer compartment to avoid freezing.
- Regularly monitor your fridge’s temperature.
And remember, once opened, used, or if left out of the fridge, a Saxenda pen remains usable for only 30 more days, even if subsequently refrigerated again.
How to Store Saxenda Pens at Room Temperature
According to the manufacturer's storage guidelines, Saxenda can be stored without refrigeration for up to 30 days. But although Saxenda is stable at room temperature within this timeframe, it should never be exposed to temperatures above 30°C.
Room temperature, in this case, is defined as between 15°C and 30°C. Here are some essential tips to safeguard your Saxenda pens, especially in warmer environments:
- Keep the pens in a medical-grade cooler bag if the ambient temperature frequently gets above 30°C.
- Never leave Saxenda in your car or under direct sunlight.
- Keep them away from heat sources such as stoves or fireplaces.
According to Novo Nordisk's recommendations, Saxenda pens exposed to temperatures above 30°C, even briefly, are not safe for use anymore.
Saxenda should appear as a colourless liquid. If you notice the medication in your pen is cloudy, discoloured, or contains particles, you Saxenda has probably gone bad.
In any doubt, discard the pen and replace it either from your refrigerator or by obtaining a new one from a pharmacy.
What Happens if You Use Expired Saxenda?
While expired Saxenda is unlikely to be harmful due to bacterial contamination, its effectiveness may be significantly reduced.
The degradation process means that Saxenda gradually becomes less effective. The more it's left unrefrigerated or exposed to high temperatures, the greater the loss of efficacy, potentially leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes.
Using Saxenda that has been improperly stored or has expired is akin to administering a lower dose, or no dose at all, which can severely impact your weight-loss treatment.
How to Travel With Saxenda
When traveling with Saxenda, managing temperature storage is crucial, especially in two scenarios:
- Transporting Unopened Saxenda Pens: These need to remain refrigerated.
- Traveling to Warm Climates: Open pens in use must be kept away from excessive heat (above 30°C).
To keep Saxenda pens cool while traveling or on the move, consider these solutions:
- DIY Cooler Bags: While you can use ice in a homemade cooler bag, this option might lead to leaks, uncertainty, and potentially wasted medication.
- Medical-Grade Travel Coolers: A more reliable choice, these coolers offer convenience, peace of mind, and safety, ensuring your medication remains at the correct temperature.
4AllFamily’s Travel Coolers are designed for travelers who need to keep their medications cool under any circumstances. Our portable fridges and travel coolers are ideal whether you're a backpacker, a frequent flyer, or a beach enthusiast. They can maintain fridge temperatures between 2°C and 8°C for multiple days with biogel packs or USB power, or alternatively a safe room temperature range below 25°C to protect your injections from heat.
Flying with Saxenda Pens
You can take Saxenda pens on a plane with you. Air travelers with chronic conditions and medical treatments are allowed to fly with their medicines, whether in pills or injections, as well as any needle or medical device they need for medical purposes.
When flying with Saxenda, always pack your pens in your carry-on bag on board with you. Never leave your medicine in the checked luggage. Hazardous temperature and atmospheric conditions in the hold could damage the drug inside your pen.
Share Your Insights With Us!
We’d love to hear about your own experiences with storing and traveling with Saxenda pens. Feel free to share your insights, ask questions, or leave comments below. Your input can help others in their journey with Saxenda!
