Trulicity can be out of the fridge for up to 14 days total, as long as the temperature stays below 86°F (30°C). That 14-day window is cumulative, meaning every minute the pen spends at room temperature counts toward the same 336-hour limit, whether it happens all at once or across multiple occasions.
The 14-Day Rule
Trulicity pens are meant to be stored in the refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C to 8°C). When refrigeration isn’t available, the FDA-approved label allows each pen to stay at room temperature for a total of 14 days. The key word is “total.” You can take a pen out of the fridge for a few hours, put it back, take it out again days later, and it still counts against the same 14-day clock. There’s no limit to how many times you move it in and out of the fridge, but once a pen has accumulated 14 days outside refrigeration, it should be discarded.
This makes tracking important. If you accidentally left a pen on the counter overnight for 8 hours, that pen now has roughly 13 days of room temperature time remaining. A simple note on the carton with the date and duration of each exposure can help you keep an accurate count.
Temperature Limits
Room temperature storage only counts as safe if the pen stays below 86°F (30°C). In a climate-controlled home, this is rarely a concern. But a car in summer, a sunny windowsill, or a bag left outside on a hot day can easily exceed that threshold. If a pen has been exposed to temperatures above 86°F, the medication may have degraded, and you should not use it.
Cold extremes are also a problem. Trulicity should never be frozen. If a pen has frozen, even briefly, discard it. The freezing process can damage the protein structure of the medication in ways that aren’t always visible.
How to Tell if a Pen Is Still Good
Before injecting, look at the liquid inside the pen. Trulicity should be clear and colorless to slightly yellow. If the solution has changed color, looks cloudy, or contains visible particles, do not use the pen. These are signs that the medication has broken down. If the pen looks normal and has stayed within both the temperature and time limits, it’s safe to use.
Protecting From Light
Trulicity is sensitive to light. The FDA label recommends keeping pens in the original carton until you’re ready to inject. This applies whether the pen is in the fridge or sitting at room temperature. If you’ve taken a pen out of its carton for travel, try to keep it in a pouch, bag, or other covering that blocks direct sunlight and heat.
Traveling With Trulicity
For short trips under two weeks, you can simply carry your pen at room temperature and use the 14-day allowance. For longer trips, a travel cooler with an ice pack is the better option. One important detail: the pen should not touch ice or frozen gel packs directly, since contact with freezing surfaces can damage the medication. Wrapping the pen in a cloth or placing a barrier between the pen and the cold pack solves this.
If you’re flying, always pack Trulicity in your carry-on bag. Checked luggage sits in the cargo hold, where temperatures can swing from well below freezing to extreme heat depending on the aircraft and route. Airport X-ray machines and changes in cabin air pressure do not affect the medication. The pen contains a glass syringe internally, so pressure changes won’t cause issues.
What to Do if You Lose Track of Time
If you’re unsure how long a pen has been out of the fridge, err on the side of caution. A pen that may have exceeded 14 days at room temperature, or that sat in a hot environment for an unknown period, is not worth the risk. The medication might still look fine but have lost potency, meaning your blood sugar control could silently slip. Replacing the pen is a safer choice than injecting a dose that may not work as expected.