Why delivery method matters
Semaglutide is a peptide, and peptides are fragile. Too much heat degrades it; one freeze destroys it outright, and neither failure is visible to the naked eye. The licensed storage rules (fridge at 2 to 8°C; up to 28 days below 30°C once removed; never freeze; cap on for light protection) apply to the whole journey, including the last mile to your door.
What a proper Wegovy delivery looks like
- Insulated cold-chain packaging as standard. Thermal liners or purpose-made shippers, not a plain jiffy bag.
- Coolant in warm weather. Partially melted gel packs on arrival are normal. They have done their job by absorbing the heat.
- Tracked, next-working-day courier with delivery confirmation. Temperature-sensitive injectables should never arrive untracked through the standard post.
- Delivery timing you control. Safe-place instructions, named-day delivery, or pickup points, so the parcel doesn't bake on a doorstep.
- Sealed Novo Nordisk carton with the UK dispensing pharmacy's label (your name, strength, batch), plus the patient information leaflet.
The 60-second arrival check
- Did it arrive on schedule? A parcel that went missing over a hot weekend needs a pharmacist's opinion before use.
- Seals intact? Any tampering = photograph and call the pharmacy.
- Check the fluid through the pen window: Wegovy should be clear and colourless. Cloudy, coloured or particle-filled = do not use.
- Freezing risk: pens pressed against frozen gel packs for days, or left against a depot wall in a hard frost, may have frozen. Frozen semaglutide is bin-only. Contact the pharmacy.
- Expiry date. Check it, then fridge the pen immediately (2 to 8°C, away from the freezer element).
Tampered packaging, cloudy or discoloured fluid, evidence of freezing, or a pharmacy that shipped without any cold-chain protection. Photograph everything, contact them immediately, and do not inject until they confirm in writing. A medicine delivered outside its storage conditions should be replaced.
Storage at home: the Wegovy rules
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Unopened pens | Fridge, 2 to 8°C, until expiry. Never the freezer. |
| Out of the fridge | Up to 28 days below 30°C, then discard. Write the date you took it out on the carton. |
| Light | Keep the pen cap on when not in use; semaglutide degrades in light. |
| Accidental freeze | Discard. No exceptions, even if it thaws looking normal. |
Novo Nordisk's own FAQ confirms the same figures. The 28-day window is generous enough that most people simply keep their in-use pen in a cupboard at room temperature.
Choosing a pharmacy that gets this right
Cold-chain discipline is invisible until it fails, which is why checking a provider before ordering beats complaining after. The minimum standard: GPhC registration you can verify on the public register, a prescribing process that verifies your identity and medical history, and a written cold-chain delivery policy. iGovy.co.uk manually verifies Wegovy providers against exactly these points before listing them. A sensible shortcut if you don't fancy auditing pharmacies yourself.
Tablets remove the cold chain from the equation. Room-temperature storage, standard tracked delivery. The verification rules (GPhC registration, ID and medical checks) still apply in full. See our Wegovy pill guide and ID checks page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Wegovy need refrigerated delivery? +
Yes. Legitimate UK pharmacies ship Wegovy in insulated cold-chain packaging via tracked courier. Semaglutide tolerates up to 28 days below 30°C, so properly packed next-day delivery is safe, but cold-chain packaging is the standard you should expect.
How long can Wegovy be out of the fridge? +
Up to 28 days below 30°C. Write the date you removed it on the carton and discard it after 28 days. Keep the cap on to protect it from light.
My Wegovy parcel arrived warm. Is it safe? +
In typical UK weather, a next-day parcel that feels cool-to-room-temperature is within the 30°C tolerance. If the pen feels genuinely hot, or the parcel spent days in transit during a heatwave, contact the supplying pharmacy before injecting.
What if my Wegovy pen froze? +
Do not use it. Freezing irreversibly damages semaglutide. Photograph the packaging and request a replacement from the pharmacy.
What should Wegovy look like in the pen? +
Clear and colourless. Any cloudiness, colour or particles mean do not inject and contact the pharmacy.
References & official sources
Show all 5 cited sources, with study authors +
- Novo Nordisk. Wegovy frequently asked questions (shipping, storage, dosing): www.novomedlink.com/obesity/products/treatments/wegovy/resources/frequently-asked-questions.html
- electronic medicines compendium. Wegovy SmPC & patient leaflet: www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search?q=wegovy
- GPhC. Standards for registered pharmacies: www.pharmacyregulation.org/standards
- GPhC. Check a pharmacy registration: www.pharmacyregulation.org/registers
- GOV.UK. Check a suspicious online medicine seller: www.gov.uk/check-suspicious-online-medicine-seller