What is GlucaGen?
GlucaGen is a prescription medicine used:
- to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in people with diabetes who use insulin.
Who should not use GlucaGen?
Do not use GlucaGen if:
- you are allergic to glucagon or lactose or any of the ingredients in GlucaGen. See the end of this Patient Information leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in GlucaGen.
- you have a tumor in the gland on top of your kidneys (adrenal gland) called a pheochromocytoma.
- you have a tumor in your pancreas called an insulinoma.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using GlucaGen?
Before using GlucaGen, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have kidney problems.
- have pancreas problems. Tumors in your pancreas called glucagonomas.
- 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.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if GlucaGen passes into your breast milk.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over the counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. GlucaGen may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how GlucaGen works. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I use GlucaGen?
- Read the detailed Instructions for Use that come with GlucaGen.
- Use GlucaGen exactly as your doctor tells you to.
- Make sure that you and your family know how to use GlucaGen the right way before you need it.
- Act quickly. Having very low blood sugar for a period of time may be harmful.
- Call for emergency medical help right after you use GlucaGen.
- 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 GlucaGen. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your diabetes medicines.
What should I avoid while using GlucaGen?
While using GlucaGen do not:
- drive or operate machinery until you have eaten sugar or a sugar-sweetened product such as a regular soft drink or fruit juice.
What are the possible side effects of GlucaGen?
GlucaGen may cause serious side effects, including:
- High blood pressure. High blood pressure is common after taking GlucaGen and can be severe.
- Low blood sugar. GlucaGen can cause low blood sugar in patients with tumors in their pancreas called insulinomas and glucagonomas by making too much insulin in their bodies.
- Allergic reactions. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction to GlucaGen may include rash, difficulty breathing, or low blood pressure (hypotension).
The most common side effects of GlucaGen include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- temporary fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest (tachycardia).
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of GlucaGen. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
General information about the safe and effective use of GlucaGen
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use GlucaGen for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give GlucaGen to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about GlucaGen that is written for health professionals.
How should I store GlucaGen?
Before you mix the GlucaGen powder and liquid:
- Store GlucaGen at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) for up to 24 months (2 years).
- Check the expiration date on your vial of GlucaGen. Do not use GlucaGen if the expiration date has passed.
- Do not freeze GlucaGen.
- Keep GlucaGen in its original package, and keep GlucaGen out of light.
After you mix the GlucaGen powder and liquid:
- Use GlucaGen right away.
- Throw away any unused GlucaGen.
- Do not use GlucaGen if a gel has formed, or if you see particles in the solution.
Keep GlucaGen and all medicines out of the reach of children.
What are the ingredients in GlucaGen?
Active Ingredient: glucagon
Inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate and sterile water for reconstitution
For more information, go to www.novonordisk-us.com or call 1-800-727-6500.
