Cold Chain
Refrigerated custody from pharmacy to your door — how injectable GLP-1 medications ship and store (36–46°F).
Injectable semaglutide and tirzepatide are temperature-sensitive biologics: labels specify refrigeration at 36–46°F (2–8°C), with bounded room-temperature allowances (Wegovy pens, for instance, tolerate limited time out of the fridge before use — the pen's labeling gives the exact window). The cold chain is the logistics discipline keeping that promise from pharmacy to porch: insulated packaging, gel packs, speed.
Patient-side custody is simple: unbox promptly on delivery day, refrigerate, don't freeze (a frozen pen is a dead pen), and park it away from the freezer wall. Summer deliveries deserve a tracking eye. Oral semaglutide opts out of all of this — room-temperature storage is one of the tablet's quiet advantages for travelers and the refrigeration-averse.
This glossary entry is general information, not medical advice, and is written to be consistent with FDA prescribing information and primary trial publications as of its last review. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personal medical decisions.
Questions about Cold Chain? Ask a doctor free.
A licensed doctor can apply this to your health history in a free telehealth consultation — booking takes about two minutes, with programs from $149/month. You're only charged after approval.
Book an Appointment