Glucagon

  • 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:

Hypoglycemia

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

Pediatrics

  • 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

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