Zegalogue (dasiglucagon) is a brand-name drug prescribed for severe low blood sugar in certain adults and some children. Zegalogue comes as a solution for subcutaneous injection. It’s injected only as needed.

Zegalogue is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hypoglycemia (severe low blood sugar) in adults and children ages 6 years and older with diabetes.

This medication belongs to a drug class called glucagon analogs. Zegalogue is not available in a generic version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Zegalogue, including its strength and how to use the medication. For a comprehensive look at Zegalogue, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Zegalogue provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Zegalogue, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Read below for the recommended dosage of Zegalogue and other details about the drug.

Zegalogue form

Zegalogue comes as a solution in a single-dose prefilled syringe or as an autoinjector pen. It’s given as a subcutaneous injection. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will teach you (or a caregiver) how to give your injections.

Zegalogue strength

Zegalogue comes in one strength of 0.6 milligrams per 0.6 milliliter (mg/mL).

Typical dosages

Typically, your doctor will educate you on the signs of hypoglycemia and when and how to use Zegalogue. When Zegalogue is needed, the typical dose is a single-dose injection.

If you are still experiencing hypoglycemia 15 minutes after your first injection, you (or a caregiver) should inject a second dose of Zegalogue.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly recommended in adults. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for severe hypoglycemia

Doctors may prescribe Zegalogue to treat hypoglycemia.

If your doctor prescribes Zegalogue for your hypoglycemia, your starting dose will likely be a single injection when severe hypoglycemia occurs.

If you are still experiencing hypoglycemia 15 minutes after your first injection, you (or a caregiver) should inject a second dose of Zegalogue.

For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.

Children’s dosage

Zegalogue is approved to treat hypoglycemia in children ages 6 years and older with diabetes.

The dosage for children is the same as the dosage for adults. The starting dose will likely be a single injection when severe hypoglycemia occurs.

If your child is still experiencing hypoglycemia 15 minutes after their first injection, you should inject a second dose of Zegalogue.

Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage.

Long-term treatment

Zegalogue is meant to be used as needed when severe hypoglycemia occurs.

If you (or your child) have diabetes, you will likely need to carry Zegalogue with you in case severe hypoglycemia occurs.

Before you start carrying Zegalogue, your doctor will discuss the treatment plan and when to use Zegalogue with you.

Talk with a doctor if you have questions about how long you or your child can expect to need to carry Zegalogue.

The Zegalogue dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • how your body responds to Zegalogue
  • the severity of your hypoglycemia at each occurrence
  • side effects you may have with Zegalogue

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Zegalogue dosage.

Zegalogue comes as a solution in a single-dose prefilled syringe or as an autoinjector pen. It’s given as a subcutaneous injection.

With a subcutaneous injection, you (or a caregiver) will inject the medication under your skin. You’ll use the single-dose prefilled syringe or autoinjector pen to inject Zegalogue. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will teach you (or your caregiver) how to give your injections. It’s important to inject Zegalogue according to the prescribed instructions.

You’ll store Zegalogue at room temperature for up to 12 months. If you have more than one Zegalogue injection, store the additional injections in the refrigerator to last longer. Once you remove a Zegalogue injection from the refrigerator, it is good at room temperature for 12 months unless the expiration date is sooner.

You (or a caregiver) can inject Zegalogue into your abdomen, the top of your thigh, the back of your thigh, your buttocks, or your upper arm. It’s important to avoid injecting Zegalogue within 2 inches of the belly button.

Be sure to choose a different injection site each time you inject Zegalogue. And avoid areas where the skin is tender, hard, or irritated. This will reduce the risk of injection-related side effects, such as bleeding or pain at the injection site.

After the injection

You (or a caregiver) should always call 911 or your local emergency medical number immediately after injecting Zegalogue.

It is also important to do the following after receiving the injection:

  • consume a quick-acting source of sugar (such as fruit juice) paired with a long-acting source of sugar (such as peanut butter crackers) once you can safely consume food or drink
  • use a second dose, if available, if you are still having signs of severe hypoglycemia 15 minutes later
  • tell your doctor each time you use Zegalogue so they can monitor your hypoglycemia and change other medicines you take for diabetes if needed

If you have questions about how to use Zegalogue, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. The following are also available on the manufacturer’s website:

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Zegalogue in an easy-open container. They may also recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

It’s important that you don’t use more Zegalogue than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you take more than the recommended amount of Zegalogue

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Zegalogue. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Zegalogue.

Is the dosage of Zegalogue similar to the dosage of Baqsimi?

No, the forms of each are different. Zegalogue is a liquid solution that is given as a subcutaneous injection. Baqsimi, which contains the active drug glucagon, is a powder sprayed into the nose.

Both are given as a single dose to treat severe hypoglycemia, and both can be given again 15 minutes after the first dose if hypoglycemia is still present.

The dose in milligrams for each drug differs because they have different active ingredients. Your doctor will prescribe the medication and the dosage that’s right for you.

To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.

How long does it take for Zegalogue to start working?

Zegalogue starts to work right away. Because of how the drug works, you’ll likely notice a rapid improvement in your hypoglycemia symptoms. Even if symptoms improve, you (or a caregiver) should always call 911 immediately after Zegalogue is given.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Zegalogue treatment.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Zegalogue for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Zegalogue without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Zegalogue that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Zegalogue. These additional articles might be helpful:

  • More about Zegalogue: For information about other aspects of Zegalogue, refer to this article.
  • Side effects: To learn about side effects of Zegalogue, see the Zegalogue prescribing information.
  • Details about your condition: For details about hypoglycemia or diabetes, see our diabetes hub.

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.