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Quick facts
- Type
- human prescription drug
- RxNorm ID
- 310497
We do not publish dosing. How much of this medicine to take, how often, and for how long depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other conditions and other medicines. That is a decision for the person who prescribes or dispenses it. Follow the directions on your own pack and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.
What it is used to treat
Glucagon for Injection is an antihypoglycemic agent and a gastrointestinal motility inhibitor indicated: • for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia in pediatric and adult patients with diabetes. ( 1.1 ) • as a diagnostic aid for use during radiologic examinations to temporarily inhibit movement of the gastrointestinal tract in adult patients. ( 1.2 ) 1.1 Severe Hypoglycemia Glucagon for Injection is indicated for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia in pediatric and adult patients with diabetes mellitus. 1.2 Diagnostic Aid Glucagon for Injection is indicated as a diagnostic aid for use during radiologic examinations to temporarily inhibit movement of the gastrointestinal tract in adult patients.
About this medicine
Glucagon is an antihypoglycemic agent and a gastrointestinal motility inhibitor. Glucagon is produced by solid state peptide synthesis. The chemical structure of the glucagon is identical to human glucagon. Glucagon is a single-chain polypeptide that contains 29 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 3482.8 Daltons. The empirical formula is C 153 H 225 N 43 O 49 S. The primary sequence of glucagon is shown below. Glucagon (synthetic origin) is a white to off-white powder. It is relatively insoluble in water but is soluble at a pH of less than 3 or more than 9.5. Glucagon for injection, USP is a sterile, white to off white lyophilized powder or plug in a vial and a syringe of sterile diluent for intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous use. The vial contains 1 mg of glucagon USP, 49 mg of lactose monohydrate. Hydrochloric acid may have been added during manufacture to adjust the pH of the glucagon to 2.5 to 3.0. One International Unit of glucagon is equivalent to 1 mg of glucagon. The 1 mL diluent syringe contains 12 mg of glycerin, 1 mg hydrochloric acid, and Water for Injection, at pH 1.8 to 2.2. Glucagon Primary Sequence
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Glucagon increases blood glucose concentration by activating hepatic glucagon receptors, thereby stimulating glycogen breakdown and release of glucose from the liver. Hepatic stores of glycogen are necessary for glucagon to produce an antihypoglycemic effect. Extrahepatic effects of glucagon include relaxation of the smooth muscle of the stomach, duodenum, small bowel, and colon.
Who should not take it
Glucagon for Injection is contraindicated in patients with: • Pheochromocytoma because of the risk of substantial increase in blood pressure [see Warning and Precautions (5.1) ] • Insulinoma because of the risk of hypoglycemia [see Warning and Precautions (5.2) ] • Known hypersensitivity to glucagon or any of the excipients in Glucagon for Injection. Allergic reactions have been reported with glucagon and include anaphylactic shock with breathing difficulties and hypotension [see Warning and Precautions (5.3) ] • Glucagonoma when used as a diagnostic aid because of the risk of hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] • Pheochromocytoma ( 4 ) • Insulinoma ( 4 ) • Known hypersensitivity to glucagon or to any of the excipients ( 4 ) • Glucagonoma when used as a diagnostic aid ( 4 )
Warnings and cautions
• Substantial Increase in Blood Pressure in Patients with Pheochromocytoma : Contraindicated in patients with pheochromocytoma because Glucagon for Injection may stimulate the release of catecholamines from the tumor. ( 4 , 5.1 ) • Hypoglycemia in Patients with Insulinoma : In patients with insulinoma, glucagon administration may produce an initial increase in blood glucose; however, Glucagon for Injection may stimulate exaggerated insulin release from an insulinoma and cause hypoglycemia. If a patient develops symptoms of hypoglycemia after a dose of Glucagon for Injection, give glucose orally or intravenously. ( 4 , 5.2 ) • Hypersensitivity and Allergic Reactions : Allergic reactions, which have been reported with glucagon, may occur and include generalized rash, and in some cases anaphylactic shock with breathing difficulties, and hypotension. ( 4 , 5.3 ) • Lack of Efficacy in Patients with Decreased Glycogen: Glucagon for Injection is effective in treating hypoglycemia only if sufficient hepatic glycogen is present. Patients in states of starvation, with adrenal insufficiency or chronic hypoglycemia may not have adequate levels of hepatic glycogen for Glucagon for Injection administration to be effective. Patients with these conditions should be treated with glucose. ( 5.4 ) • Necrolytic Migratory Erythema (NME): Necrolytic migratory erythema (NME), a skin rash, have been reported post marketing following continuous glucagon infusion and resolved with discontinuation of the glucagon. Should NME occur, consider whether the benefits of continuous glucagon infusion outweigh the risks. ( 5.5 ) • Hyperglycemia in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus when Used as a Diagnostic Aid : Treatment with Glucagon for Injection in patients with diabetes mellitus may cause hyperglycemia. Monitor diabetic patients for changes in blood glucose levels during treatment and treat if indicated. ( 5.6 ) • Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Increase in Patients with Cardiac Disease when Used as a Diagnostic Aid : Glucagon for Injection may increase myocardial oxygen demand, blood pressure, and pulse rate. […]
Reported side effects
The following important adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in the labeling: • Hypersensitivity and Allergic Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] • Necrolytic Migratory Erythema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] • Hyperglycemia in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus when Used as a Diagnostic Aid [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] • Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Increase in Patients with Cardiac Disease when used as a Diagnostic Aid [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of glucagon. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is generally not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. • Injection site reactions including erythema and swelling • Nausea • Vomiting • Headache • Dizziness • Asthenia • Pallor • Diarrhea • Somnolence • Generalized allergic reactions including anaphylactic shock with breathing difficulties and hypotension • Hypertension and tachycardia • Decreased blood pressure. Hypotension has been reported up to 2 hours after administration in patients receiving glucagon as premedication for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures. • Hypoglycemia and hypoglycemic coma. Patients taking indomethacin may be more likely to experience hypoglycemia following glucagon administration [see Drug Interactions (7) ] . • Necrolytic Migratory Erythema (NME) cases have been reported post marketing in patients receiving continuous infusion of glucagon. Glucagon adverse reactions include: injection site reactions, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, asthenia, pallor, diarrhea, somnolence, and decreased blood pressure. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mylan at 1-877-446-3679 (1-877-4-INFO-RX) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Interactions with other medicines
Table 1: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with Glucagon for Injection Beta-Blockers Clinical Impact: Patients taking beta-blockers may have a transient increase in pulse and blood pressure when given Glucagon for Injection. Intervention: The increase in blood pressure and heart rate may require therapy in patients with coronary artery disease. Indomethacin Clinical Impact: In patients taking indomethacin, Glucagon for Injection may lose its ability to raise blood glucose or may even produce hypoglycemia. Intervention: Monitor blood glucose levels during glucagon treatment of patients taking indomethacin. Anticholinergic Drugs Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of anticholinergic drugs and Glucagon for Injection increase the risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions due to additive effects on inhibition of gastrointestinal motility. Intervention: Concomitant use of anticholinergic drugs with Glucagon for Injection for use as a diagnostic aid is not recommended. Warfarin Clinical Impact: Glucagon for Injection may increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin. Intervention: Monitor patients for unusual bruising or bleeding, as adjustments in warfarin dosage may be required. Insulin Clinical Impact: Insulin acts antagonistically to glucagon. Intervention: Monitor blood glucose when Glucagon for Injection is used as a diagnostic aid in patients receiving insulin. • Beta-blockers : Patients taking beta-blockers may have a transient increase in pulse and blood pressure. ( 7 ) • Indomethacin : In patients taking indomethacin Glucagon for Injection may lose its ability to raise glucose or may produce hypoglycemia. ( 7 ) • Anticholinergic drugs : Concomitant use of anticholinergic drugs with Glucagon for Injection for use as a diagnostic aid is not recommended. ( 7 ) • Warfarin : Glucagon for Injection may increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin. ( 7 ) • Insulin : Monitor blood glucose when Glucagon for Injection is used as a diagnostic aid in patients receiving insulin. ( 7 )
Use in specific groups
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Available data from case reports and a small number of observational studies with glucagon use in pregnant women over decades of use have not identified a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Multiple small studies have demonstrated a lack of transfer of pancreatic glucagon across the human placental barrier during early gestation. In a rat reproduction study, no embryofetal toxicity was observed with glucagon administered by injection during the period of organogenesis at doses representing up to 40 times the human dose, based on body surface area (mg/m 2 ) (see Data ). The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In pregnant rats given animal sourced glucagon twice-daily by injection at doses up to 2 mg/kg (up to 40 times the human dose based on body surface area extrapolation, mg/m 2 ) during the period of organogenesis, there was no evidence of increased malformations or embryofetal lethality. 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There is no information available on the presence of glucagon in human or animal milk, the effects of glucagon on the breastfed child or the effects of glucagon on milk production. However, glucagon is a peptide and would be expected to be broken down to its constituent amino acids in the infant's digestive tract and is therefore, unlikely to cause harm to an exposed infant. 8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of Glucagon for Injection for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia in pediatric patients with diabetes have been established. Safety and effectiveness for use as a diagnostic aid during radiologic examinations to temporarily inhibit movement of the gastrointestinal tract in pediatric patients have not been established. […]
If too much is taken
If overdosage occurs, the patient may experience nausea, vomiting, inhibition of GI tract motility, increase in blood pressure and pulse rate. In case of suspected overdosing, the serum potassium may decrease and should be monitored and corrected if needed. If the patient develops a dramatic increase in blood pressure, phentolamine mesylate has been shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure for the short time that control would be needed.
Before you take anything new
Tell your pharmacist or doctor about every medicine you take — including ones bought without a prescription, herbal products and supplements. Interactions are one of the most common avoidable causes of harm from medicines, and a pharmacist can check your full list in a couple of minutes.
This page is built from the openFDA record of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approved labelling for this product, effective 15 December 2024. Label text has been shortened and reformatted for readability; safety wording has not been altered in meaning. FDA labelling describes products approved in the United States — brand names, strengths, formulations and approved uses may differ in your country. Always read the leaflet that comes with your own pack. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the FDA. Retrieved 2026-07-30.