Baqsimi (glucagon) is a prescription brand-name medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat severely low blood sugar in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Low blood sugar is also known as hypoglycemia.

For this use, doctors may prescribe Baqsimi to adults as well as children 4 years and older.

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are long-term conditions. If you and your doctor agree that Baqsimi is safe for you, you’ll likely take the drug long term. Keep in mind that you should take Baqsimi only as needed when your blood sugar becomes severely low. Baqsimi is not a medication that you take every day.

Here are some fast facts on Baqsimi:

  • Active ingredient: glucagon
  • Drug class: antihypoglycemic
  • Drug form: nasal spray

As with other medications, Baqsimi can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Baqsimi, including details about its uses, see this article.

Baqsimi can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. (Side effects may also be known as adverse effects.) These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Baqsimi in clinical trials:

* To learn more information about these side effects, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Baqsimi. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Baqsimi’s patient information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Baqsimi include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Baqsimi and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* To learn more information about these side effects, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Baqsimi may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Baqsimi’s patient information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Baqsimi, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

A serious side effect that has been reported with Baqsimi is:

Baqsimi isn’t known to cause long-term effects. This may be because you take the medication only as needed.

* To learn more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Baqsimi may cause.

Eye-related side effects

It’s common for people to have eye-related side effects from taking Baqsimi. But they typically aren’t serious.

Eye-related side effects reported by people taking Baqsimi in clinical trials include:

Baqsimi is a nasal spray, so small amounts of the medication may reach your eyes through your sinuses. This could cause irritation, resulting in eye-related side effects of Baqsimi.

What you can do

Eye-related side effects from Baqsimi should go away on their own within a few hours or days after a dose.

In the meantime, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the following to help manage your symptoms:

  • an over-the-counter (OTC) eye drop, such as Visine Allergy Eye Relief (naphazoline/pheniramine)
  • an OTC antihistamine, such as Claritin (loratadine) or Zyrtec Allergy (cetirizine)

You should also talk with your doctor if you experience eye-related side effects that affect your daily life or don’t go away on their own. They can help find possible causes and suggest ways to treat these side effects. Your doctor may also recommend you try a medication other than Baqsimi.

Nose-related side effects

Because Baqsimi is a nasal spray, it’s not surprising that the drug can cause some nose-related side effects. People taking Baqsimi in clinical trials commonly reported these side effects. But the side effects are mild and usually don’t require medical attention.

Nose-related side effects of Baqsimi can include:

What you can do

In most cases, nose-related side effects from Baqsimi go away on their own within a few hours or days after a dose.

In the meantime, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the following to help manage your symptoms:

  • an OTC nose spray, such as Flonase Allergy Relief (fluticasone propionate)
  • an OTC antihistamine, such as Claritin (loratadine) or Zyrtec Allergy (cetirizine)

You should also talk with your doctor if you have nose-related side effects that affect your everyday life or don’t go away on their own. They can help find possible causes and advise you on ways to treat these side effects. Your doctor may also suggest you try a different medication to keep on hand for low blood sugar.

For example, glucagon (the active drug in Baqsimi) is also available as an injection for use as needed. This form doesn’t cause nose-related side effects.

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting may occur after a dose of Baqsimi. This side effect was reported by people taking the drug in clinical trials. But no one reported serious nausea and vomiting.

What you can do

Nausea and vomiting after a dose of Baqsimi should go away on their own after a few hours.

Keep in mind that you should not take another dose of Baqsimi if you vomit after a dose. Because the drug is a nasal spray, vomiting won’t affect how much of the medication your body absorbs.

Eating a small amount of bland food, such as rice or toast, may ease your nausea and vomiting. It could also help to raise your blood sugar.

In addition, you can speak with your doctor or pharmacist about OTC medications for nausea and vomiting. An example is Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate).

If the nausea and vomiting with Baqsimi bother you or don’t go away on their own, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help find possible causes and suggest ways to treat these side effects. Your doctor may also suggest you try medication other than Baqsimi.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Baqsimi can cause an allergic reaction in some people. But it’s not known how frequently it occurred in clinical studies of the drug.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • rash
  • itching
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or hands
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
  • low blood pressure

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Baqsimi. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Baqsimi. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Tumor in your adrenal gland. If you have a tumor in your adrenal gland called pheochromocytoma, you should not use Baqsimi. This is because glucagon (the active drug in Baqsimi) can cause dangerously high blood pressure in people with pheochromocytoma. Your doctor can recommend other treatment options.

Allergic reaction. You should not take Baqsimi if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to Baqsimi or any of its ingredients. Talk with your doctor about which other treatments are better choices for you.

Tumor in your pancreas. You should not use Baqsimi if you have a tumor in your pancreas called an insulinoma. Baqsimi can cause the insulinoma to release more insulin than usual, which could cause your blood sugar to drop even more. Your doctor can suggest other possible treatments.

Low level of glycogen in your liver. Baqsimi works only if your liver has stored enough of a sugar called glycogen. If you have gone a long time without eating and have certain health conditions, your liver may have a low level of glycogen. (These conditions include adrenal insufficiency and chronic hypoglycemia.) Your doctor can recommend treatments other than Baqsimi if you have a low glycogen level in your liver.

Alcohol use with Baqsimi

There are no known interactions between alcohol and Baqsimi.

But drinking alcohol can make it harder to manage your blood sugar levels. It may also keep you from recognizing symptoms of low blood sugar.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor before you take Baqsimi. They can advise you on what amount is safe for you to consume.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Baqsimi

Baqsimi hasn’t been studied in pregnant people. But studies of other drugs containing glucagon didn’t show any harmful effects. Glucagon is a hormone that your body makes on its own.

Baqsimi also hasn’t been studied in people who are breastfeeding. It’s not known whether the drug passes into breast milk or if it could cause side effects in a breastfed child.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking Baqsimi. You should also speak with them if you’re breastfeeding or thinking about it. Your doctor can advise you on the safest way to treat low blood sugar.

Although some mild side effects from Baqsimi are common, they usually go away on their own. Most don’t require medical attention.

You should talk with your doctor if you experience serious side effects, including an allergic reaction. This could be serious and require the care of a doctor.

If you’d like to learn more about Baqsimi, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.