Definition: Glucagon is a hormone made by the pancreas that raises the level of sugar in the blood. As a medicine it treats severe low blood sugar. MedlinePlus says it works by making the liver release stored sugar into the blood. Baqsimi (nasal powder) and Gvoke (injection) are examples.
| Product | Form | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Baqsimi | 3 mg nasal powder, one device per dose | For ages 1 and older. Pressed into one nostril; it does not need to be inhaled. If there is no response after 15 minutes, a second dose from a new device may be given. |
| Gvoke | Injection under the skin (HypoPen, prefilled syringe, kit) | For ages 2 and older with severe low blood sugar. |
Because a person with a severe low needs someone else to help, the Baqsimi label says the people around them are told about it and how to use it. Emergency help is called right away.
The labels say people with low sugar stores in the liver, such as with starvation, adrenal insufficiency or long-lasting low blood sugar, may not respond. Glucagon is not used with pheochromocytoma, an adrenal tumor, or insulinoma, a pancreas tumor. Nausea and vomiting are common: in Baqsimi adult trials, nausea affected 26% and vomiting 15%.
A rescue device sits unused for months. Logging its expiry date, and any time it was used along with the insulin dose before it, keeps both the device and the event on record.
Read more on Dose Track: When is glucagon used · Baqsimi side effects · Gvoke side effects · How to store glucagon