How do I store my pen, and what do I do with the needles?
Fridge between uses, out 30 minutes before injecting. Needles go in a labelled sharps container.
GLP-1 medications are temperature-sensitive. Keep pens and vials in the fridge when you are not using them. Most brands tolerate 21 to 56 days at room temperature, but check your specific medication's instructions.
Pull it out about 30 minutes before injecting. A cold shot stings like a wasp.
Do not toss needles in the kitchen bin. We are not animals. If you do not have a formal red sharps container, an empty heavy-duty laundry detergent bottle or a bleach jug works. Label it clearly SHARPS and tape the lid shut when it is full, to keep the waste crew safe.
None of this is medical advice. It is educational material drawn from FAT BITCH: Killing the Willpower Myth by Cat Clark, and it does not replace your prescriber, your pharmacist, or your actual doctor. If something here does not match what your care team told you, go with your care team and bring this along to the conversation.