Potential Side Effects of GlucaGen and Methods for Coping With Them
GlucaGen, a prescription medication, is primarily used for treating severe hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar) in adults and children with diabetes. The active ingredient in GlucaGen is glucagon.
In case of a severe allergic reaction to GlucaGen, symptoms can range from mild (skin rash, itching, flushing, swelling under the skin) to serious (swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe). If you experience mild symptoms, it's essential to call your doctor right away. In case of a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
The medication is given as a subcutaneous injection, intramuscular injection, or IV injection and is meant for short-term use. Common side effects include dizziness, lack of energy, drowsiness, diarrhea, temporary increase in blood pressure or heart rate, temporary decrease in blood pressure, and injection site reactions. Nausea and vomiting may occur after GlucaGen treatment, but these are common side effects that usually ease quickly.
GlucaGen can pause movement in the digestive system during certain radiology exams in adults to help diagnose conditions affecting the stomach or intestines. However, it's important to note that the injection site used to administer GlucaGen does not affect the risk of side effects, but necrolytic migratory erythema may occur from continuous IV infusion.
In rare cases, serious side effects can occur, such as hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) in people with diabetes during radiology exams, necrolytic migratory erythema (a type of severe skin rash) from continuous IV infusion, and allergic reaction.
If you have diabetes, nausea and vomiting can be symptoms of hypoglycemia. After receiving GlucaGen to treat severe hypoglycemia, it's possible for your blood sugar level to drop again after GlucaGen wears off. To prevent this, it's recommended to eat or drink something that contains fast-acting sugar, such as fruit juice, hard candy, or a glucose tablet, after you are awake and able to swallow.
It's crucial to note that the long-term side effects of GlucaGen are not well-documented, as it is typically used for emergency treatment of severe hypoglycemia and not intended for chronic use. However, care should be taken in people with adrenal gland tumors (pheochromocytoma) or pancreatic tumors (insulinoma), as glucagon can provoke serious effects like high blood pressure or hypoglycemia in these cases.
If you develop a side effect during GlucaGen treatment and want to report it to the FDA, you can visit MedWatch. In case of an emergency, your caregiver should call 911 or your local emergency number after giving you a dose of GlucaGen. It's likely that you'll need medical care until you're stable.
If you have any questions about the side effects of GlucaGen or how you'll receive the drug, consult your doctor. It's always best to discuss any concerns with a healthcare professional.
- In some medical-conditions, such as radiology exams in adults, GlucaGen can momentarily stop movement in the digestive system to help diagnose conditions affecting the stomach or intestines.
- While chronic diseases like diabetes may require regular management, it's important to be aware of potential side effects when using GlucaGen, which includes dizziness, lack of energy, drowsiness, diarrhea, temporary increases or decreases in blood pressure, and injection site reactions, among others.
- Apart from the immediate effects of GlucaGen in treating severe hypoglycemia, the long-term health-and-wellness implications of this medication are not extensively studied due to its short-term use for emergency treatment.
