Semaglutide and tirzepatide aren't tablets. They're large protein molecules — biologics, technically. Like insulin or vaccines, they fold into a specific 3D shape that gives them their effect, and that shape is fragile. Take them above ~30°C for long enough and the protein unfolds, the pen becomes inactive, and you've paid for medication that doesn't work.

Cold-chain logistics is what keeps that from happening between the manufacturer and your fridge.

The temperature rules (and why)

  • Long-term storage: 2°C to 8°C.This is the temperature of a normal refrigerator main compartment — not the freezer. The pen stays stable for its full shelf life at this range.
  • In use: up to 28°C for 28 days.Once you start a pen, you can keep it at room temperature (below 28°C) for the next four weeks. After that, even if it's not empty, the manufacturer says discard it.
  • Never freeze.Freezing destroys the protein structure permanently. If a pen has frozen at any point, it's done — even if it thaws back out and looks fine.
  • Avoid direct sunlight.UV degrades the protein even at “safe” temperatures.

How the pharmacy ships it to you

When your treating doctor signs the next month's prescription, here's what happens behind the scenes — on every order, for every patient:

  1. The pen is pulled from a 2–8°C pharmacy refrigerator(licensed under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940, regulated by CDSCO).
  2. Packed in an EPS thermocol boxwith two pre-frozen gel packs — sized to maintain 2–8°C internal temperature for 48–72 hours.
  3. Sealed with a temperature indicator strip. If the internal temperature exceeds 10°C at any point during transit, the indicator turns red. You can see the colour through the packaging.
  4. Handed to a cold-chain-certified courier— we use Bluedart Cold Chain by default; in some metros we use Delhivery's Express ColdChain service. Both maintain refrigerated holding facilities at major hubs.
  5. Delivered to you in 24–72 hours from dispatch.Same-day delivery in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune; 1–2 days for most metros; 2–3 days for tier-2 cities.

What to do when your package arrives

  1. Check the temperature indicator.It should be green or blue. If it's red, the cold chain broke — don't use the pen, contact us within 24 hours for a free replacement.
  2. Check the gel packs. They should still be cool to the touch. Warm gel packs + red indicator = breach.
  3. Inspect the pen.The solution inside should be clear, colourless to slightly pale yellow, with no particles visible. Cloudy or particulate = don't use, contact us.
  4. Transfer to your fridge immediately. Main compartment, not the door (door temperatures fluctuate more), not the freezer shelf, not next to the freezer wall.

Travelling with a GLP-1 pen

You can travel with the pen for up to 28 days at room temperature. For longer trips:

  • Short flights (under 6 hours):keep the pen in its original packaging in your carry-on. Cabin air is air-conditioned and well within safe range. Don't put it in checked luggage — the cargo hold can freeze.
  • Long-haul international:use a small insulated travel pouch with a frozen gel pack (TSA / customs allow medical cold packs with a doctor's letter).
  • Indian summer travel:a 40°C train compartment for 12 hours can break the cold chain on a pen that's already mid-use. Travel pouch with a cold pack — ₹500–800 on Amazon, and worth it.
  • Always carry the doctor's prescription when travelling with the pen. Customs / airport security may ask.

The 'I forgot to put it back in the fridge' situation

It happens. You took the pen out for an injection, got distracted, and it sat on the kitchen counter for 18 hours. What now?

  • If it's within 28 days of first opening:as long as it didn't exceed 28°C, you're fine. Use it, keep going.
  • If it's an unopened pen: the manufacturer allows brief excursions up to 30°C for up to 6 weeks total outside the fridge during its shelf life. A single 18-hour episode is well within that.
  • If the room was 35°C+ (Indian summer afternoon):the pen is likely degraded. Don't risk it — message us, we'll replace it.

When in doubt, ask through the app. We'd rather replace a pen than have you inject an inactive one.