Glucagon
Prescription ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Glucagon is an FDA-approved peptide/protein hormone rescue drug used for severe hypoglycemia in people with diabetes, with product-specific prescription forms including Baqsimi nasal powder, GVOKE subcutaneous products, and glucagon emergency kits. This app supports FDA-approved prescription glucagon products only; compounded, research-use, lyophilized peptide-vial, non-prescribed, or unverified rescue products are unsupported.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Glucagon is an FDA-approved peptide/protein hormone rescue drug used for severe hypoglycemia in people with diabetes, with product-specific prescription forms including Baqsimi nasal powder, GVOKE subcutaneous products, and glucagon emergency kits. NutriStack rates the supporting evidence as strong. Common adult dosing is Prescription rescue use only; dose, route, repeat-dose instructions, age limits, and caregiver training are product-specific and must follow the dispensed FDA-approved label., though a prescriber sets the actual dose. This profile indexes 3 sources.
- Emergency rescue treatment for severe hypoglycemia in diabetes1,2
- Caregiver-administered options including nasal powder, ready-to-use autoinjector/prefilled syringe, and emergency kits
- Raises blood glucose by mobilizing hepatic glycogen when glycogen stores are adequate
- Product-specific pediatric labeling for approved rescue products2
The bottom line
Evidence rating strong. Most-documented uses: emergency rescue treatment for severe hypoglycemia in diabetes, caregiver-administered options including nasal powder, ready-to-use autoinjector/prefilled syringe, and emergency kits, raises blood glucose by mobilizing hepatic glycogen when glycogen stores are adequate. 3 sources indexed (2026), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Glucagon activates hepatic glucagon receptors, increasing glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis so the liver releases glucose into blood. The response depends on sufficient hepatic glycogen stores, which may be reduced by starvation, adrenal insufficiency, or chronic hypoglycemia.1,2
Dosing & protocol.
Baqsimi is intranasal; GVOKE is subcutaneous for rescue; traditional glucagon kits may be subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous under medical supervision depending on label and setting. Rescue products are single-use or require immediate use after mixing as directed.
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Injection-site reactions or nasal/upper-respiratory irritation depending on product
- Transient blood pressure or pulse increase
- Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis (rare)
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Reference material
3- 1BAQSIMI (glucagon) nasal powder: prescribing informationSource linkedURLU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed · Official prescribing information and FDA drug safety communication · 2026
Label covers intranasal glucagon for severe hypoglycemia, emergency assistance, oral carbohydrates after response, pheochromocytoma/insulinoma/hypersensitivity contraindications, decreased-glycogen warning, and pregnancy risk language.
- 2GVOKE (glucagon) injection and GVOKE VialDx: prescribing informationSource linkedURLU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed · Official prescribing information and FDA drug safety communication · 2026
Label covers subcutaneous rescue use for severe hypoglycemia, age-specific product instructions, emergency assistance, oral carbohydrates after response, contraindications, decreased-glycogen warning, drug interactions, and diagnostic-use cautions.
- 3GLUCAGON for injection emergency kit: prescribing informationSource linkedURLU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed · Official prescribing information and FDA drug safety communication · 2026
Label covers severe hypoglycemia rescue, immediate use after mixing, emergency assistance, oral carbohydrates after response, contraindications, decreased-glycogen warning, and clinically significant drug interactions.
Common questions.
Quick answers about Glucagon, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Glucagon?
Glucagon is an FDA-approved peptide/protein hormone rescue drug used for severe hypoglycemia in people with diabetes, with product-specific prescription forms including Baqsimi nasal powder, GVOKE subcutaneous products, and glucagon emergency kits. This app supports FDA-approved prescription glucagon products only; compounded, research-use, lyophilized peptide-vial, non-prescribed, or unverified rescue products are unsupported.
What is Glucagon used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Glucagon include: Emergency rescue treatment for severe hypoglycemia in diabetes; Caregiver-administered options including nasal powder, ready-to-use autoinjector/prefilled syringe, and emergency kits; Raises blood glucose by mobilizing hepatic glycogen when glycogen stores are adequate; Product-specific pediatric labeling for approved rescue products. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as strong.
What is a typical dose of Glucagon?
A typical adult dose of Glucagon is Prescription rescue use only; dose, route, repeat-dose instructions, age limits, and caregiver training are product-specific and must follow the dispensed FDA-approved label.. The commonly recommended form is FDA-approved prescription glucagon rescue product selected by the diabetes clinician, such as Baqsimi, GVOKE, or a glucagon emergency kit. Do not substitute research peptides, compounded glucagon, unlabeled vials, or non-prescribed products.. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Glucagon?
Reported side effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, injection-site reactions or nasal/upper-respiratory irritation depending on product, transient blood pressure or pulse increase, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis (rare). This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Glucagon?
NutriStack rates this as Strong, meaning multiple high-quality meta-analyses or systematic reviews converge on the same finding. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Glucagon in NutriStack.
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