GlucaGen (glucagon) is a prescription brand-name medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to:

  • Treat severe hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar) in adults and children with diabetes. Severe hypoglycemia is a medical emergency that requires help from another person. GlucaGen is a medication that a caregiver can administer to increase your blood sugar.
  • Pause movement in the digestive system during certain radiology exams in adults. These exams are used to help diagnose some conditions affecting the stomach or intestines.

GlucaGen is meant for short-term use. It’s given as a subcutaneous injection or an intramuscular injection. A healthcare professional may also administer the medication as an IV injection.

Here are some fast facts about GlucaGen:

  • Active ingredient: glucagon
  • Drug class: antihypoglycemic agent and gastrointestinal motility inhibitor
  • Drug form: powder that’s mixed with liquid to make a solution given by injection, available as:
    • GlucaGen HypoKit (a single-dose vial of powder with a single-dose syringe of sterile water)
    • GlucaGen Diagnostic Kit (a single-dose vial of powder with a single-dose vial of sterile water)
    • GlucaGen (a single-dose vial)

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

GlucaGen can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few hours to days. However, 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 with GlucaGen:

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

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

Mild side effects that have been reported with GlucaGen include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few hours to days. However, 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 side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect during GlucaGen treatment and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

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

GlucaGen 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 GlucaGen’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects during GlucaGen treatment, 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.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

  • Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if GlucaGen is given during radiology exams in people with diabetes. This is unlikely to cause symptoms.
  • Necrolytic migratory erythema (a type of severe skin rash) if GlucaGen is given as a continuous IV infusion.* Symptoms can include:
    • scaly, itchy patches of skin
    • large blisters filled with clear fluid
    • raw areas of skin
  • Allergic reaction.†

* A continuous IV infusion is an injection into a vein given over a long period of time.
† For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

GlucaGen may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Does the injection site used to administer GlucaGen affect the risk of side effects?

It’s not likely. GlucaGen can be injected into a muscle or under the skin of the upper arms, buttocks, or front of the thighs. A healthcare professional may also give the injection in a vein. The manufacturer of GlucaGen doesn’t note any differences in side effects when the injection is given in these various areas.

However, if GlucaGen is given by continuous infusion, it may cause a severe skin rash called necrolytic migratory erythema. (A continuous infusion is an injection into a vein that’s given over a long period of time.) Keep in mind that you’re unlikely to be given the drug in this way for hypoglycemia or during radiology exams. To learn symptoms of the rash, see “Serious side effects of GlucaGen” above.

Your doctor can help answer any other questions you have about side effects of GlucaGen and how you’ll receive the drug.

Does GlucaGen have any long-term side effects?

No, GlucaGen isn’t known to have any long-term side effects. If you develop side effects after receiving GlucaGen, they typically ease within a few hours.

Also, using GlucaGen to treat occasional episodes of hypoglycemia over long periods of time isn’t known to cause additional or long-term side effects.

If you’d like to learn more about what to expect with GlucaGen, talk with your doctor.

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

Injection site reaction

GlucaGen can sometimes cause injection site reactions. These reactions are among the more common side effects of the drug. They’re typically mild and ease quickly.

Symptoms of injection site reactions may include:

  • swelling
  • skin redness or discoloration
  • discomfort or pain

What you can do

If you have a bothersome injection site reaction with GlucaGen, it may help to apply a cold pack to the area. If the reaction is especially painful, you could also ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable pain reliever. However, if you have an injection site reaction that’s severe or doesn’t go away, see your doctor.

Headache

A headache may develop after GlucaGen treatment. This is one of the more common side effects of the medication. It usually eases quickly.

If you have diabetes, it’s important to note that headache can also be a symptom of high or low blood sugar. If you receive GlucaGen to treat severe hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar), your blood sugar could drop again after GlucaGen wears off. This could cause a headache, among other symptoms of low blood sugar.

What you can do

After you receive GlucaGen for severe hypoglycemia and are awake and able to swallow, eat or drink something that contains fast-acting sugar. For example, fruit juice, hard candy, or a glucose tablet. A diet soda or sugar-free candy will not treat hypoglycemia.

Follow this by eating something that contains longer-acting sugar, such as a sandwich. This can help prevent a headache related to your blood sugar level dropping too low again.

Keep in mind that severe hypoglycemia is a medical emergency. Your caregiver should call 911 or your local emergency number after giving you a dose of GlucaGen. It’s likely that you’ll need medical care until you’re stable.

If you have a headache that’s severe or doesn’t go away after receiving GlucaGen, tell the paramedic or doctor. They can help determine the right treatment plan for you.

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting may occur after GlucaGen treatment. These are common side effects of the medication that usually ease quickly.

When you have severe hypoglycemia, it’s possible that you may lose consciousness (pass out). After your caregiver has given you GlucaGen and you’ve regained consciousness, it’s common to vomit.

If you have diabetes, keep in mind that nausea and vomiting can be symptoms of hypoglycemia. If you’ve been given GlucaGen to treat severe hypoglycemia, it’s possible for your blood sugar level to drop again after GlucaGen wears off. This could cause nausea and vomiting, among other symptoms of low blood sugar.

What you can do

If you’ve passed out due to severe hypoglycemia, your caregiver should turn you onto your side after giving GlucaGen to you. This may help prevent choking if you vomit.

After you receive GlucaGen for severe hypoglycemia and are awake and able to swallow, eat or drink something that contains fast-acting sugar. For example, fruit juice, hard candy, or a glucose tablet. A diet soda or sugar-free candy will not treat hypoglycemia.

Follow this by eating something that contains longer-acting sugar, such as a sandwich. This can help prevent your blood sugar level from dropping too low again.

Keep in mind that severe hypoglycemia is a medical emergency. Your caregiver should call 911 or your local emergency number after giving you a dose of GlucaGen. It’s likely that you’ll need medical care until you’re stable.

If you have nausea and vomiting that are severe or don’t go away after receiving GlucaGen, tell the paramedic or doctor. They can help determine the right treatment plan for you.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, GlucaGen can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • 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

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 if you should continue GlucaGen treatment. However, 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 receive GlucaGen. 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:

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to GlucaGen or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe GlucaGen. Ask them about other medications that may be better options for you.

Pheochromocytoma. If you have a type of adrenal gland tumor called a pheochromocytoma, GlucaGen could cause a dangerous increase in your blood pressure. Your doctor will likely not prescribe GlucaGen. Ask them about other medications that may be better choices for you.

Insulinoma. If you have a type of tumor in your pancreas called an insulinoma, GlucaGen could make the tumor release large amounts of insulin. This could cause or worsen hypoglycemia. Your doctor will likely not prescribe GlucaGen. Talk with them about other treatment options.

Glucagonoma. If you have a type of tumor in your pancreas called a glucagonoma, you should not be given GlucaGen during a radiology exam. The medication could cause hypoglycemia in this situation.

Heart disease. If you have heart disease and receive GlucaGen during a radiology exam, you may have a dangerous increase in your heart rate and blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor your heart and blood pressure if they give you GlucaGen during your exam.

Diabetes. If you have diabetes and receive GlucaGen during a radiology exam, hyperglycemia may occur. Your doctor will monitor your blood sugar levels and provide treatment if necessary.

Alcohol use with GlucaGen

If you have received GlucaGen for severe hypoglycemia, you should not drink alcohol afterward. Consuming alcohol can affect your blood sugar level. And drinking alcohol can increase the risk of having another episode of hypoglycemia.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how it could affect your blood sugar. You should also ask them when it’s safe for you to consume alcohol after receiving GlucaGen.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while using GlucaGen

Here’s some information about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and GlucaGen

Pregnancy. GlucaGen hasn’t been specifically studied in pregnancy, so it’s not known for certain if the drug is safe to use while pregnant. However, GlucaGen has been used in pregnant people with diabetes for several decades. Available information doesn’t suggest that the drug causes negative effects. Also, animal studies didn’t find evidence of harm when the drug was given to pregnant females.

GlucaGen is mainly used to treat severe hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar) in people with diabetes. It’s important to note that if severe hypoglycemia isn’t treated during pregnancy, it can be life threatening for both the pregnant person and fetus.

If you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of GlucaGen.

Breastfeeding. It’s not known if GlucaGen passes into breast milk. However, if it does, the digestive system of the breastfed child is likely to break down the drug. So GlucaGen is unlikely to affect a child who is breastfed.

If you’re breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of GlucaGen treatment.

Most side effects of GlucaGen are mild and short-lived. Serious side effects are rare. If you’d like to learn more about GlucaGen, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from 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 another 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.