What the labels describe
Each US label states the expected appearance twice: in the dosage forms section and in the description of the product. It also tells the person injecting to look before each use. The table brings those lines together. Tablets are included because their colour is meant to vary by strength.
| Product | Expected appearance | Do not use if the label mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Ozempic® (semaglutide) [1] | Clear, colourless solution | Particles or colour; cloudy liquid in the pen window; frozen |
| Wegovy® injection (semaglutide) [2] | Clear, colourless solution | Particles or not clear and colourless; frozen, heat above 30 °C, light; expired; damaged pen |
| Saxenda® and Victoza® (liraglutide) [3][4] | Clear, colourless (or almost colourless) solution | Not clear and colourless, or contains particles; frozen |
| Zepbound® and Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) [5][6] | Clear, colourless to slightly yellow solution | Particles or discolouration; frozen |
| Trulicity® (dulaglutide) [7] | Clear, colourless solution | Particles or colour; frozen |
| Wegovy® tablets [2] | White to light yellow tablets | See the label and pharmacist |
| Foundayo™ tablets [11] | Pink, light yellow or greyish purple, depending on strength | See the label and pharmacist |
The other “do not use” conditions
A liquid can look perfect and still be unusable. The Wegovy® instructions say to throw a single-dose pen away if it was frozen, exposed to light or to temperatures above 30 °C, or kept out of the refrigerator for 28 days or more, and not to use a pen that looks used or broken or is past its expiry date [2]. The Ozempic®, Saxenda®, Zepbound® and Mounjaro® labels likewise say not to use the medicine after freezing [1][3][5][6]. Storage limits differ by product, which is covered in a separate article on pen storage.
For compounded injections, the FDA adds two practical points. Medicine that arrives warm or with too little cooling should not be used, because shipping temperature can affect quality, and multiple-dose vials should be discarded within 28 days of first use even if the compounder’s instructions say otherwise [8].
Why some compounded products are pink or red
Compounded drugs are not FDA approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are sold [8]. Some contain more than the GLP-1 ingredient. In an April 2026 update on compounding, the FDA used semaglutide combined with vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) as an example of a product it may treat as essentially a copy of approved drugs when the strengths and route match [9].
Cyanocobalamin itself is coloured. The label of an approved B12 injection describes it as dark red crystals or a red powder [10]. A pink or red tint in a compounded vial may therefore reflect an added ingredient such as B12. That explains a colour; it does not tell you what else the vial contains, how much active ingredient is in it, or whether it is sterile. Colour cannot do that for any product.
The FDA also notes that some compounders have sold semaglutide salt forms, such as semaglutide sodium or acetate, which are different active ingredients from the one in approved products, and that fraudulent products have carried the names of pharmacies that did not make them [8]. None of these problems can be seen by eye.
When a product looks different from last time
Among its warning signs for buying GLP-1 medicines online, the FDA lists medicine that looks different from what you previously received at your local pharmacy or from what was pictured, and packaging that is broken, damaged or missing instructions for use [8]. A change in colour, clarity or packaging between refills is a reason to stop and ask before injecting, whether the product is branded or compounded.
What to do with a vial or pen that looks wrong
- Do not inject it, and keep it rather than throwing it away, so the pharmacy can see it.
- Note the lot number, expiry date and where and when you got it.
- Contact the pharmacy or compounder that supplied it. For questions about instructions or labels on compounded products, the FDA suggests contacting the compounder or the platform you bought from [8].
- For a branded pen, the Wegovy® instructions give the manufacturer’s phone line for pens that fail their checks [2].
- Report quality problems or side effects to the FDA’s MedWatch programme [8].
- Talk to your prescriber about how to bridge the gap so you do not miss doses.
Making the check a habit
The labels ask for the look-before-use check every time, not just with a new box [1][2][3]. Pairing it with the moment you log the dose turns it into routine: liquid clear, colour as expected, no particles, pen not damaged, date in range.
Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Saxenda® and Victoza® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Mounjaro®, Zepbound® and Trulicity® are registered trademarks and Foundayo™ is a trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. PepLabo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly and Company.
When to get help
| Sign | Who to contact | How fast | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| A swollen face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing or fainting after an injection | Emergency services (112/911) | Emergency | Wegovy® Medication Guide [2] |
| A pen or vial that is cloudy, discoloured, has particles or arrived warm | Do not inject; contact the pharmacy that supplied it | Today | Labels [1–7]; FDA [8] |
| A label you suspect is fake, or packaging that differs from before | The pharmacy, and report to FDA MedWatch | Today | FDA [8] |
| You have set doses aside and will miss your schedule | Your prescriber | At your next appointment | Wegovy® label, missed doses [2] |
