7 Medications That Require Refrigeration: Insulin, Ozempic, and More

You might notice that some of your medications are taken from the refrigerator at your pharmacy, while others come from the shelf. Why are they stored differently?

Proper storage is crucial for certain medications to remain safe and effective to use. Many medications, such as insulin and Humira (adalimumab), have sensitive chemical structures. They can break down or lose potency if they’re not stored at the correct temperature. This can involve keeping the medication in the refrigerator.

So, which medications require refrigeration? We break down seven common examples below.

1. Insulin

If you’re living with diabetes, you may take insulin to manage your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. Insulin comes in a few different forms, most commonly in vials and prefilled pens. Examples include Lantus (insulin glargine), NovoLog (insulin aspart), and Tresiba (insulin degludec).

Insulin is a protein that can spoil if you don’t store it properly. Spoiled insulin won’t work as well. And insulin that has been frozen may not work as well, either. That’s why proper storage is key for best results.

Before first use, insulin will last the longest when you store it in the refrigerator. But most insulin products can be kept at room temperature before first use, with a few exceptions. These products won’t last as long when stored this way, but this can be a convenient option if you’re traveling. 

After first use, insulin pens should be stored at room temperature — don’t put them back into the fridge. With most vials, you have the option to keep them in the fridge or at room temperature once they’re opened. But keep in mind that each insulin product has its own storage instructions to follow. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about how to store your insulin properly.

Good to know: Insulin stored in an insulin pump needs special attention to remain effective and stable. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for storage.

2. GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a class of medications for Type 2 diabetes, weight loss, and cardiovascular risk reduction. Almost all of them come as injection pens. Some contain multiple doses, while others are single use. No matter the form, proper storage helps maintain their stability and effectiveness. 

Single-use GLP-1 agonists stored in the refrigerator will last until their expiration date. You also have the option of keeping these medications at room temperature. But you’ll have a shorter amount of time to use them if so. These medications include:

• Wegovy (semaglutide)

• Trulicity (dulaglutide)

• Bydureon BCise (exenatide)

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Medication storage tips: Storing your medication properly ensures that it remains safe and effective. Find out the best place to store your medications.

• How to store Ozempic: Ozempic (semaglutide) is a popular injectable medication for Type 2 diabetes. Learn more about how to store and travel with Ozempic.

• Traveling with insulin: Read pharmacist-backed tips for traveling with insulin, including how much to bring and how to store it.

Zepbound and Mounjaro (both tirzepatide) are similar medications, and they belong to their own class. But they’re both available in single-use forms that are stored the same way as the GLP-1 agonists listed above.

Multi-dose GLP-1 agonists must be stored in the fridge before your first dose. After that, you have the option of storing them at room temperature. Keep in mind that each product has specific directions for how long it lasts after first use. These medications include:

• Ozempic (semaglutide)

• Victoza (liraglutide)

• Saxenda (liraglutide)

• Byetta (exenatide)

3. Certain prescription eye drops

Most prescription eye drops don’t require refrigeration. Some shouldn’t be refrigerated at all, and others can be kept in the fridge or at room temperature. But some multi-dose eye drops need to be stored in the refrigerator before their first use. And some single-use drops should be refrigerated before opening the foil pouch. Examples of these include:

• Eye drops for glaucoma: Xalatan (latanoprost), Vyzulta (latanoprostene), Zioptan (tafluprost), Rocklatan (netarsudil / latanoprost), and Rhopressa (netarsudil)

• Antibiotic eye drops: AzaSite (azithromycin)

Before they’re opened, these eye drops will last until their expiration date in the fridge. After your first dose, you can store them in the fridge or at room temperature. Each product will have specific instructions for when to throw them away. This date is usually different from the expiration date on the container.

4. Asthma biologics like Dupixent

Biologics are complex medications that come from living sources. Several biologics treat asthma, along with other inflammatory and allergic conditions. 

Cinqair (reslizumab) is one asthma biologic that needs to be administered by a healthcare professional. But for others, you may be able to administer them yourself at home. In this case, you’ll need to store them properly. These medications include:

• Xolair (omalizumab)

• Dupixent (dupilumab)

• Tezspire (tezepelumab-ekko)

• Nucala (mepolizumab)

• Fasenra (benralizumab)

Asthma biologics are administered as injections and come in a few different forms. These include vials, prefilled syringes, and injection pens. Some vials come as a powder that you need to combine with sterile water, while others are already in liquid form. No matter which form you use, they all only contain one dose.

Most asthma biologics will last until their expiration date if you refrigerate them in their original carton. Nucala vials are one exception. You can keep them at room temperature the entire time. But once you add sterile water to a vial, you’ll need to use it within 8 hours.

If needed, you can keep most asthma biologics at room temperature. They won’t last as long when stored this way, ranging from 2 days to 30 days depending on the product. And taking them out of their carton can affect how long they last too. Check the instructions on your specific product for the right way to store it.

5. TNF inhibitors like Humira

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNF inhibitors) are a class of biologic medications that treat many different autoimmune disorders. 

Like asthma biologics, TNF inhibitors come in vials, prefilled syringes, and injection pens. Two medications, Remicade (infliximab) and Simponi Aria (golimumab), are given as intravenous infusions by a healthcare professional. But other TNF inhibitors can be given as injections at home after training. These include:

• Humira (adalimumab)

• Cimzia (certolizumab)

• Enbrel (etanercept)

• Simponi (golimumab)

• Zymfentra (infliximab)

Most forms of these products only contain one dose. One exception is the Enbrel multi-dose vial. This is used for weight-based dosages in children. And along with the Cimzia vial, it needs to be combined with sterile water before use. How long the vials last after that can depend on how you store them.

All TNF inhibitors that you administer at home can last until their expiration date if they’re stored the right way. They should be kept in the refrigerator inside their original carton to last the longest. You also have the option to keep them at room temperature, but they won’t last as long. How long they last out of the fridge can vary for different products. So be sure to follow your specific medication’s storage instructions.

6. Certain migraine medications

Injectable calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists are biologics that treat and prevent migraines. Most of them come in single-use prefilled syringes and injection pens. Vyepti (eptinezumab) is one exception. It’s given as an IV infusion by a healthcare professional for migraine prevention.

Other injectable CGRP antagonists can be administered at home. So proper storage is key before using them. These medications include: 

• Aimovig (erenumab)

• Emgality (galcanezumab)

• Ajovy (fremanezumab)

Like the other medications above, injectable CGRP antagonists last longest in the refrigerator. You can also keep them at room temperature if needed. But you’ll need to use them within 7 days if they’re stored this way.

7. Augmentin suspension

If your child has a bacterial infection, they may be prescribed a liquid antibiotic. Augmentin (amoxicillin / clavulanate) is one example. Augmentin comes as a powder that your pharmacist will mix with water to create a suspension. 

After the Augmentin suspension has been prepared, it must be stored in the refrigerator and used within 10 days. Amoxicillin is a similar antibiotic that also comes as a suspension. But refrigeration isn’t required after it’s mixed.

How should you store medications in the refrigerator?

Each medication has specific storage instructions to follow. But here are some general guidelines that apply to most refrigerated medications:

• Keep them away from the cooling element. To prevent your medications from freezing, store them away from the cooling element. Instead, place them towards the middle of the refrigerator. And if your medications freeze at any point, discard them immediately. 

• Avoid areas with fluctuating temperatures. Don’t store your medications in the refrigerator door or in the storage bins. This could expose them to fluctuating temperatures.

• Protect them from light. Store your medications in their original container or carton. For injection pens, keep the caps on.

• Keep them cool while traveling. If you’re traveling with refrigerated medications, a travel medicine cooler bag can help keep them cold. And when planning your trip, it’s a good idea to see if your destination will have a refrigerator available.

It’s OK to remove injectable medications from the refrigerator before administering them. In fact, some medications have specific instructions for when to do this. Allowing the medication to come to room temperature naturally prior to injecting can help with pain and discomfort from the shot.

If you have any questions about how to store your medication, speak with your pharmacist. They can give you helpful tips and instructions for your specific medication.

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Written by:

Armen Grigorian, PharmD Candidate

Armen has worked in various pharmacy settings such as independent pharmacies, retail pharmacies, and hospital pharmacies. He has worked at an independent pharmacy, CVS pharmacy, and at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis as a pharmacy student.

Edited by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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