Pronunciation: GLOO-ka-gon
Generic name: glucagon
Brand names: Baqsimi, Glucagon injection, Gvoke, GlucaGen
Dosage forms: intranasal device (3 mg/device), injection for subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous use , ... show all 3 dosage forms
Drug class: Glucose elevating agents

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on May 14, 2025.

What is glucagon?

Glucagon injection is used to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in adults and children with diabetes and to stop stomach movements in patients receiving radiology exams. Glucagon nasal powder (Baqsimi) is used to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in adults and children aged 1 year and older with diabetes.

Glucagon gained FDA approval on November 14, 1960. Glucagon nasal powder was approved on July 24, 2019.

How does glucagon work?

Glucagon increases blood glucose concentration by activating glucagon receptors in the liver, thereby stimulating glycogen breakdown and the release of glucose from the liver. Liver 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.

Glucagon is a hormone that belongs to the drug class called glucose-elevating agents.

Side effects

The most common side effects of glucagon injection are:

• swelling at the injection site
• redness at the injection site
• vomiting
• nausea
• decreased blood pressure
• weakness
• headache
•  dizziness
• pale skin
• diarrhea
• sleepiness or drowsiness.

The most common side effects of glucagon nasal powder are:

• nausea
• discomfort in your nose
• watery eyes
• vomiting
• stuffy nose
• redness in your eyes
• headache
• cough
• itchy nose, throat, and eyes
• runny nose
• nosebleeds.

Serious side effects and warnings

Glucagon may cause the following serious side effects:

• High blood pressure. Baqsimi can cause high blood pressure in certain people with tumors in their adrenal glands. Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of high blood pressure, such as severe headache, blurred vision, and pounding in your neck or ears
• Low blood sugar. Baqsimi can cause certain people with tumors in their pancreas, called insulinomas, to have low blood sugar
• Serious allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you have a serious allergic reaction, including:
  • rash
  • difficulty breathing
  • low blood pressure
  • hives
  • trouble swallowing
  • feeling dizzy or faint
  • cough
  • swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
  • fast heartbeat.

Additional side effects reported when using glucagon before a radiology exam include:

• High blood sugar. If you receive Glucagon before your radiology exam, it can cause high blood sugar. Your doctor will monitor your blood sugar levels during your treatment.
• Heart problems. If you have heart problems and receive Glucagon before your radiology exam, you may have an increase in your blood pressure and pulse while using Glucagon, which could be life-threatening. Your doctor will monitor your heart during treatment.

These are not all the possible side effects of glucagon. For more information, ask your healthcare provider. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Related/similar drugs

Before taking this medicine

Do not use glucagon if you:

• have a tumor in the gland on top of your kidneys (adrenal gland) called a pheochromocytoma
• have a tumor in your pancreas called an insulinoma.
• are allergic to glucagon or lactose, or any of the ingredients in glucagon
• have tumors in your pancreas called glucagonomas because they could cause low blood sugar when used for your radiology exam.

Before using Glucagon, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have kidney problems.
• have pancreas problems.
• have not had food or water for a long time (prolonged fasting or starvation).
• have low blood sugar that does not go away (chronic hypoglycemia).
• have heart problems.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if glucagon will harm your unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if glucagon passes into your breast milk.

How should I use glucagon?

Read the detailed Instructions for Use that come with glucagon. Use glucagon exactly as your doctor tells you to.

Glucagon injection

• Make sure that you and your family know how to use a glucagon injection the right way before you need it.
• Act quickly. Having very low blood sugar for some time may be harmful.
• Call for emergency medical help right after you use glucagon.
• If the person does not respond after 15 minutes, another dose may be given, if available.
• Eat sugar or a sugar-sweetened product, such as a regular soft drink or fruit juice, as soon as you are able to swallow.
• Tell your doctor each time you use glucagon. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your diabetes medicines.

Baqsimi

Read the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with Baqsimi (glucagon nasal powder). Use Baqsimi exactly how your healthcare provider tells you to use it.

• Make sure your caregiver and those around you know where you keep your Baqsimi and how to use Baqsimi the right way before you need their help.

Baqsimi contains only 1 dose of medicine and cannot be reused.

• It should be given in one side of your nose (nostril), but does not need to be inhaled.
• Baqsimi will work even if you have a cold or are taking cold medicine.
• Act quickly. Having very low blood sugar for some time may be harmful.
• After giving Baqsimi, the caregiver should call for emergency medical help right away.

When you can safely swallow food or drink, your caregiver should give you a fast-acting source of sugar (such as a regular soft drink or fruit juice) and a long-acting source of sugar (such as crackers with cheese or peanut butter).

If the person does not respond after 15 minutes, another dose of Baqsimi from a new device may be given, if available, while waiting for emergency services.

Tell your healthcare provider each time you use Baqsimi.

Dosing information

Glucagon injection

Adults and Pediatric Patients Weighing More Than 25 kg or for Pediatric Patients with Unknown Weight 6 Years and Older:

• 1 mg (1 mL) injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly into the upper arm, thigh, or buttocks.
• Intravenous administration should only be done under medical supervision.

If there has been no response after 15 minutes, an additional 1 mg dose (1 mL) of glucagon for injection may be administered using a new kit while waiting for emergency assistance.

Pediatric Patients Weighing Less Than 25 kg or for Pediatric Patients with Unknown Weight Less Than 6 Years of Age

• 0.5 mg (0.5 mL) injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly into the upper arm, thigh, or buttocks, or intravenously.

If there has been no response after 15 minutes, an additional 0.5 mg dose (0.5 mL) of Glucagon for Injection may be administered using a new kit while waiting for emergency assistance.

Dosage in Adults for Using Glucagon for Injection Diagnostic Kit and Glucagon for Injection Single-Dose Vial as a Diagnostic Aid

• The recommended diagnostic dose for relaxation of the stomach, duodenal bulb, duodenum, and small bowel is 0.2 mg to 0.5 mg administered intravenously or 1 mg administered intramuscularly;
• The recommended dose to relax the colon is 0.5 mg to 0.75 mg administered intravenously or 1 mg to 2 mg administered intramuscularly.

The onset of action after an injection will depend on the organ under examination and route of administration [see Clinical Pharmacology

Glucagon nasal powder (Baqsimi)

Dosage in Adults and Pediatric Patients Aged 1 Year and Older:

• 3 mg administered as one actuation of the intranasal device into one nostril.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since glucagon is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule.

Call your doctor promptly if symptoms do not improve after using glucagon.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid pulse, or high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears).

What should I avoid after using glucagon?

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can lower your blood sugar.

What other drugs will affect glucagon?

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Glucagon may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how glucagon works. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Storage

Glucagon powder for reconstitution

Store glucagon powder and liquid at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) for up to 24 months (2 years).

Do not freeze.

Keep it in its original package and out of the light.

After you mix the glucagon powder and liquid:

• Use glucagon right away.
• Throw away any unused glucagon.
• The solution should be clear and colorless. Do not use glucagon if it is cloudy or if you see particles in the solution.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Glucagon nasal powder (Baqsimi)

• Store Baqsimi at temperatures up to 86ºF (30ºC).
• Keep Baqsimi in the shrink-wrapped tube until you are ready to use it.
• Throw away (discard) Baqsimi and the tube after use. Used Baqsimi may be placed in household trash.
• Keep out of the reach of children.

Ingredients

Glucagon for injection

Glucagon for injection is a white lyophilized powder supplied as follows:

• Treatment of Severe Hypoglycemia: 1 mg single-dose vial of Glucagon for Injection with a 1 mL single-dose syringe of Sterile Water for Injection, USP (Glucagon Emergency Kit for Low Blood Sugar)
• Use as a Diagnostic Aid: 1 mg single-dose vial of Glucagon for Injection with a 1 mL single-dose vial of Sterile Water for Injection, USP (Diagnostic Kit).

Active Ingredient: Glucagon

Inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate and sterile water for reconstitution

Baqsimi ingredients

Active Ingredient: glucagon

Inactive Ingredients: betadex and dodecylphosphocholine.

Available in an intranasal device containing one dose of glucagon 3 mg.

Manufacturer

Glucagon injections are manufactured by several pharmaceutical companies. The primary manufacturers include:

• Eli Lilly markets GlucaGen HypoKit
• Novo Nordisk produces GlucaGen
• Fresenius Kabi makes Glucagon Emergency Kit
• Xeris Pharmaceuticals produces Gvoke (glucagon injection).

Glucagon nasal powder is made by Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly), under the brand Baqsimi. Their global headquarters are in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

Popular FAQ

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer