Glucagon

What it is used for

Glucagon for injection is a prescription medicine used:

• to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in people with diabetes mellitus.
• to stop movement in the intestines in people receiving radiology exams.

How to take it

• Read the detailed Instructions for Use that come with glucagon for injection.
• Use glucagon for injection exactly how and when your healthcare provider tells you to use it.
• Make sure you and your caregiver knows where you keep your glucagon for injection and how to use glucagon for injection the right way before you need their help.
• Act quickly. Having very low blood sugar for a period of time may be harmful.
• After glucagon is mixed, make sure it is clear and of water-like consistency. Do not use if it has particles or is discolored.
• After giving glucagon for injection the caregiver should call for emergency medical help right away.
• Turn the person on their side to prevent them from choking.
• If the person does not respond after 15 minutes, another dose may be given, if available while waiting for emergency medical help.
• Eat sugar or a sugar sweetened product such as a regular soft drink or fruit juice as soon as you are able to swallow.

Tell your healthcare provider each time you use glucagon for injection. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of your diabetes medicines.

Side effects, and when to stop

Glucagon may cause serious side effects, including:

• High blood pressure. Glucagon can cause high blood pressure in certain people with tumors in their adrenal glands called pheochromocytoma.
• Low blood sugar. G lucagon can cause low blood sugar in people with tumors in their pancreas called insulinomas and glucagonomas. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include:
  • sweating
  • drowsiness
  • dizziness
  • sleep disturbances
  • irregular heartbeat
  • anxiety
  • tremor
  • blurred vision
  • hunger
  • slurred speech
  • restlessness
  • depressed mood
  • tingling in the hands, feet, lips or tongue
  • irritability
  • abnormal behavior
  • lightheadedness
  • unsteady movement
  • inability to concentrate
  • personality changes
  • headache

Very low blood sugar can cause confusion, seizures, passing out (loss of consciousness) and death. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to tell if you have low blood sugar and what to do if this happens while using glucagon for injection. Know your symptoms of low blood sugar. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions for treat low blood sugar.

• Serious allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you have a serious allergic reaction including:
  • rash
  • difficulty breathing
  • low blood pressure

• High blood sugar. If you receive glucagon for injection before your radiology exam, it can cause high blood sugar. Your healthcare provider will monitor your blood sugar levels during your treatment.
• Heart problems. If you have heart problems and receive glucagon for injection before your radiology exam, you may have an increase in your blood pressure and pulse while using glucagon for injection which could be life threatening. Your healthcare provider will monitor your heart during treatment.

The most common side effects of glucagon for Injection include:

• swelling at the injection site
• headache
• redness at the injection site
• dizziness
• vomiting
• pale skin
• nausea
• diarrhea
• decreased blood pressure
• sleepiness or drowsiness
• weakness

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of glucagon for injection. For more information, ask your healthcare provider.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Who should not take it

Do not use glucagon for injection if:

• you have a tumor in the gland on top of your kidneys (adrenal gland) called a pheochromocytoma.
• you have a tumor in your pancreas called an insulinoma.
• you have a tumor in your pancreas called a glucagonoma because it could cause low blood sugar when used for your radiology exam
• you are allergic to glucagon or lactose or any of the ingredients in glucagon for injection. See the end of this Patient Information leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in glucagon for injection.

Before using glucagon for injection, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have adrenal problems.
• have pancreas problems.
• have not had anything to eat or have not had a drink of water for a long time (prolonged fasting or starvation).
• have low blood sugar that does not go away (chronic hypoglycemia).
• have heart problems.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if glucagon will harm your unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if glucagon passes into your breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Glucagon may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how glucagon works. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Storing it

Before you mix the Glucagon powder and liquid:

• Do not use glucagon for injection if the expiration date has passed.
• Store glucagon for injection at room temperature between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
• Do not freeze glucagon.
• Keep glucagon for injection in its original package and away from light.

After you mix the glucagon powder and liquid:

• Use glucagon for injection right away.
• Throw away unused glucagon for injection.

Keep Glucagon for Injection and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General Information about the safe and effective use of Glucagon for Injection.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use glucagon for injection for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give glucagon for injection to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about glucagon for injection that is written for health professionals.