- Brand Name : GlucaGen
- Drug Class : Hypoglycemia Antidotes, Antidiabetics, Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonists, Diagnostics, Gastrointestinal, Glucose-Elevating Agents
- Medical Author : John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
- Medical Reviewer :
- _eael_post_view_count : 10
What Is Glucagon and How Does It Work?
Glucagon is a prescription drug for injection is a gastrointestinal motility inhibitor indicated for use as a diagnostic aid during radiologic examinations to temporarily inhibit movement of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Glucagon is available under the following different brand names: Glucagen, Glucagon Emergency Kit, and GlucaGen HypoKit.
Dosages of Glucagon
Adult and Pediatric Dosages
Injection, powder
- 1 mg/vial
Oral liquid
- 55%
Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:
Adults
- Indicated for severe hypoglycemic reactions in patients with diabetes treated with insulin
- 1 mg (1 unit) intramuscularly/subcutaneously/intravenously if no intravenous for glucagon
- Repeat every 15 minutes once or twice; give glucagon as soon as it is available and if no response
- Administer supplemental carbohydrate to replete glycogen stores
- Indicated for severe hypoglycemic reactions in patients with diabetes treated with insulin
- Administer oral glucose/intravenous glucagon to replete glycogen stores
- GlucaGen
- Children under 6 years: 0.5 mg subcutaneous/intramuscular/intravenous; may repeat in 15 minutes if necessary
- Children over 6 years: 1 mg subcutaneous/intramuscular/intravenous; may repeat in 15 minutes if necessary
- Alternatively
- Children under 25 kg: 0.5 mg; may repeat in 15 minutes if necessary
- Children 25 kg or over: 1 mg; may repeat in 15 minutes if necessary
- Infants over 6 months and children:
- 0.5-1 g/kg up to 25 g (2-4 ml/kg/dose of 25% solution) intravenously; not to exceed 25 g/dose
- Adolescents
- Intravenously: 10-25 g (20-50 ml 50% solution or 40-100 ml of 25%)
- Orally: 4-20 g as a single dose; may repeat after 15 minutes if self-monitoring of blood glucose shows continued hypoglycemia
Glucagon Emergency Kit
- Children under 20 kg: 0.5 mg subcutaneous/intramuscular/intravenous every 15 minutes as needed, or 0.02-0.03 mg/kg/dose subcutaneous/intramuscular/intravenous; may repeat in 15 minutes if necessary
- Children 20 kg or over: 1 mg subcutaneous/intramuscular/intravenous; may repeat in 15 minutes if necessary every 20 minutes as needed
Radiography of Gastrointestinal
- Indicated as diagnostic aid for decreased gastrointestinal motility
- To inhibit motility of stomach and small bowel: 0.2-0.5 mg intravenously over time period of 1 minute or 1 mg intramuscularly
- To inhibit motility of colon: 0.5-0.75 mg intravenously over time period of 1 minute or 1 mg intramuscularly
- Bolus doses over 1 mg administered intravenously may cause nausea and vomiting and are not recommended
Beta-Blocker and Calcium Channel Blocker Toxicity (off-label)
- Indicated off-label for overdose of beta blockers or calcium channel blockers
- Load: 50-150 mcg/kg intravenous pyelogram over 1 minute, then 3-5 mg/hour or 50-100 mcg/kg/hour intravenously; titrate infusion to achieve adequate clinical response