Glucagon (Glucagon Hydrochloride) - Summary

GLUCAGON SUMMARY

Glucagon for Injection (rDNA origin) is a polypeptide hormone identical to human glucagon that increases blood glucose and relaxes smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract. Glucagon is synthesized in a special non-pathogenic laboratory strain of Escherichia coli bacteria that has been genetically altered by the addition of the gene for glucagon.

For the treatment of hypoglycemia:

Glucagon is indicated as a treatment for severe hypoglycemia.

Because patients with type 1 diabetes may have less of an increase in blood glucose levels compared with a stable type 2 patient, supplementary carbohydrate should be given as soon as possible, especially to a pediatric patient.

For use as a diagnostic aid:

Glucagon is indicated as a diagnostic aid in the radiologic examination of the stomach, duodenum, small bowel, and colon when diminished intestinal motility would be advantageous.

Glucagon is as effective for this examination as are the anticholinergic drugs. However, the addition of the anticholinergic agent may result in increased side effects.

INFORMATION FOR THE USER

GLUCAGON

FOR INJECTION

(rDNA ORIGIN)

BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE AN EMERGENCY ARISES. DO NOT USE THIS KIT AFTER DATE STAMPED ON THE BOTTLE LABEL. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT, CONSULT A DOCTOR, NURSE OR PHARMACIST.

Make sure that your relatives or close friends know that if you become unconscious, medical assistance must always be sought. Glucagon may have been prescribed so that members of your household can give the injection if you become hypoglycemic and are unable to take sugar by mouth. If you are unconscious, glucagon can be given while awaiting medical assistance.

Show your family members and others where you keep this kit and how to use it. They need to know how to use it before you need it. They can practice giving a shot by giving you your normal insulin shots. It is important that they practice. A person who has never given a shot probably will not be able to do it in an emergency.

IMPORTANT

• Act quickly. Prolonged unconsciousness may be harmful.
• These simple instructions will help you give glucagon successfully.
• Turn patient on his/her side to prevent patient from choking.
• The contents of the syringe are inactive. You must mix the contents of the syringe with the glucagon in the accompanying bottle before giving injection. (See DIRECTIONS FOR USE below.)
• Do not prepare Glucagon for Injection until you are ready to use it.
  WARNING: THE PATIENT MAY BE IN A COMA FROM SEVERE HYPERGLYCEMIA (HIGH BLOOD GLUCOSE) RATHER THAN HYPOGLYCEMIA. IN SUCH A CASE, THE PATIENT WILL NOT RESPOND TO GLUCAGON AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

INDICATIONS FOR USE

Use glucagon to treat insulin coma or insulin reaction resulting from severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia include disorientation, unconsciousness, and seizures or convulsions. Give glucagon if (1) the patient is unconscious (2) the patient is unable to eat sugar or a sugar-sweetened product (3) the patient is having a seizure, or (4) repeated administration of sugar or a sugar-sweetened product such as a regular soft drink or fruit juice does not improve the patient's condition. Milder cases of hypoglycemia should be treated promptly by eating sugar or a sugar-sweetened product. (See INFORMATION ON HYPOGLYCEMIA below for more information on the symptoms of hypoglycemia.) Glucagon is not active when taken orally.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

TO PREPARE GLUCAGON FOR INJECTION

1. Remove the flip-off seal from the bottle of glucagon. Wipe rubber stopper on bottle with alcohol swab.
   
2. Remove the needle protector from the syringe, and inject the entire contents of the syringe into the bottle of glucagon. DO NOT REMOVE THE PLASTIC CLIP FROM THE SYRINGE. Remove syringe from the bottle.
   
3. Swirl bottle gently until glucagon dissolves completely. GLUCAGON SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS THE SOLUTION IS CLEAR AND OF A WATER-LIKE CONSISTENCY.
   

TO INJECT GLUCAGON
Use Same Technique as for Injecting Insulin

1. Using the same syringe, hold bottle upside down and, making sure the needle tip remains in solution, gently withdraw all of the solution (1 mg mark on syringe) from bottle. The plastic clip on the syringe will prevent the rubber stopper from being pulled out of the syringe; however, if the plastic plunger rod separates from the rubber stopper, simply reinsert the rod by turning it clockwise. The usual adult dose is 1 mg (1 unit). For children weighing less than 44 lb (20 kg), give 1/2 adult dose (0.5 mg). For children, withdraw 1/2 of the solution from the bottle (0.5 mg mark on syringe). DISCARD UNUSED PORTION.
   

USING THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS,
INJECT GLUCAGON IMMEDIATELY AFTER MIXING.

1. Cleanse injection site on buttock, arm, or thigh with alcohol swab.
2. Insert the needle into the loose tissue under the cleansed injection site, and inject all (or ½ for children weighing less than 44 lb) of the glucagon solution. THERE IS NO DANGER OF OVERDOSE. Apply light pressure at the injection site, and withdraw the needle. Press an alcohol swab against the injection site.
3. Turn the patient on his/her side. When an unconscious person awakens, he/she may vomit. Turning the patient on his/her side will prevent him/her from choking.
4. FEED THE PATIENT AS SOON AS HE/SHE AWAKENS AND IS ABLE TO SWALLOW. Give the patient a fast-acting source of sugar (such as a regular soft drink or fruit juice) and a long-acting source of sugar (such as crackers and cheese or a meat sandwich). If the patient does not awaken within 15 minutes, give another dose of glucagon and INFORM A DOCTOR OR EMERGENCY SERVICES IMMEDIATELY.
5. Even if the glucagon revives the patient, his/her doctor should be promptly notified. A doctor should be notified whenever severe hypoglycemic reactions occur.

INFORMATION ON HYPOGLYCEMIA

Early symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) include:

• sweating
• dizziness
• palpitation
• tremor
• hunger
• restlessness
• tingling in the hands, feet, lips, or tongue
• lightheadedness
• inability to concentrate
• headache
• drowsiness
• sleep disturbances
• anxiety
• blurred vision
• slurred speech
• depressed mood
• irritability
• abnormal behavior
• unsteady movement
• personality changes

If not treated, the patient may progress to severe hypoglycemia that can include:

• disorientation
• unconsciousness
• seizures
• death

The occurrence of early symptoms calls for prompt and, if necessary, repeated administration of some form of carbohydrate. Patients should always carry a quick source of sugar, such as candy mints or glucose tablets. The prompt treatment of mild hypoglycemic symptoms can prevent severe hypoglycemic reactions. If the patient does not improve or if administration of carbohydrate is impossible, glucagon should be given or the patient should be treated with intravenous glucose at a medical facility. Glucagon, a naturally occurring substance produced by the pancreas, is helpful because it enables the patient to produce his/her own blood glucose to correct the hypoglycemia.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH GLUCAGON TREATMENT

Severe side effects are very rare, although nausea and vomiting may occur occasionally.

A few people may be allergic to glucagon or to one of the inactive ingredients in glucagon, or may experience rapid heart beat for a short while.

If you experience any other reactions which are likely to have been caused by glucagon, please contact your doctor.

See all indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Glucagon

Treatment with the human once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 analog taspoglutide in combination with metformin improves glycemic control and lowers body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin alone: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. [2009.07]
CONCLUSIONS: Taspoglutide used in combination with metformin significantly improves fasting and postprandial glucose control and induces weight loss, with a favorable tolerability profile.

Efficacy and safety of the human glucagon-like peptide-1 analog liraglutide in combination with metformin and thiazolidinedione in patients with type 2 diabetes (LEAD-4 Met+TZD). [2009.07]
CONCLUSIONS: Liraglutide combined with metformin and a thiazolidinedione is a well-tolerated combination therapy for type 2 diabetes, providing significant improvements in glycemic control.

The effects of two different hypocaloric diets on glucagon-like peptide 1 in obese adults, relation with insulin response after weight loss. [2009.07]
OBJECTIVE: Few studies have investigated the effect of type of diets on GLP-1 concentrations. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two diets on circulating GLP-1 levels and the relation with insulin response after weight loss... CONCLUSION: A hypocaloric diet with a low fat percentage decreased GLP-1 levels with a direct correlation with insulin levels. Nevertheless, patients with a hypocaloric diet with a low carbohydrate percentage treatment did not change GLP-1 levels. Diet macronutrient manipulation on GLP-1 response could be useful in an obesity nutrition therapy.

Safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of albiglutide, a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetic, in healthy subjects. [2009.05]
AIMS: Albiglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mimetic generated by genetic fusion of a dipeptidyl peptidase-IV-resistant GLP-1 dimer to human albumin. Albiglutide was designed to retain the therapeutic effects of native GLP-1 while extending its duration of action. This study was conducted to determine the pharmacokinetics and initial safety/tolerability profile of albiglutide in non-diabetic volunteers... CONCLUSIONS: Albiglutide has a half-life that favours once weekly or less frequent dosing with an acceptable safety/tolerability profile in non-diabetic subjects.

Effects of 1 and 3 g cinnamon on gastric emptying, satiety, and postprandial blood glucose, insulin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, glucagon-like peptide 1, and ghrelin concentrations in healthy subjects. [2009.03]
BACKGROUND: A previous study of healthy subjects showed that intake of 6 g cinnamon with rice pudding reduced postprandial blood glucose and the gastric emptying rate (GER) without affecting satiety. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to study the effect of 1 and 3 g cinnamon on GER, postprandial blood glucose, plasma concentrations of insulin and incretin hormones [glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)], the ghrelin response, and satiety in healthy subjects... CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion of 3 g cinnamon reduced postprandial serum insulin and increased GLP-1 concentrations without significantly affecting blood glucose, GIP, the ghrelin concentration, satiety, or GER in healthy subjects. The results indicate a relation between the amount of cinnamon consumed and the decrease in insulin concentration.

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Clinical Trials Related to Glucagon

A Study of the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamic Activity of Very Low Dose-Glucagon in Subjects With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to identify the safest dose of very low dose glucagon to prevent hypoglycemia in patients with Type I diabetes who use insulin pumps and to measure the the amount of glucagon in the blood and see how the body responds to the glucagon.

Influence of Glucagon Inhibition in Relation to the Anti-Diabetic Effect of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus [Active, not recruiting]
Incretinbased treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has increasing interest. The incretin glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) stimulates beta-cells to increased

secretion and production of insulin. Glucose sensitivity is enhanced, apoptosis inhibited -

progression in disease is potentially stopped. The alpha-cell is also influenced by GLP-1 as infusion lowers plasmaglucose (PG) levels in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) (C-peptide negative) by inhibition of glucagon and thereby decreased hepatic glucoseproduction (HGP). Further Vilsboll et al has proved normalization of the glacgonostatic effect of glucose in patients with T2DM. As an attempt to elucidate glucose-intolerance in patients with T2DM further Knop et al investigated the glucagonresponse to both oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a following iso-glycemic clamp. He saw a sufficient suppression of glucagon when glucose was introduced intravenously but the suppression of glucagon was attenuated and delayed when glucose was given orally.

The aim of this study is to elucidate the glucose intolerance further. Due to the complex interactions and mutual feed-back regulation between the pancreatic hormones and the PG level this protocol includes five days. All days include a euglycemic-clamp, patients with T2DM (n=10) are clamped at their fasting PG as are healthy control subjects (n=10). During the clamp either GLP-1 alone; GLP-1 in combination with somatostatin, insulin and glucagon; or somatostatin, insulin and glucagon are infused and blood samples are drawn.

The design of the study makes it possible to isolate the effect of each hormone. Further we will be able to enlighten the effect of GLP-1 on the increase in glucose turn-over it induces.

The essential part in this design will be hormone concentrations and the response parameter the amount of glucose (AUC) it takes to create the euglycemic-clamp.

The Role of Amylin and Glucagon in T1DM [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to see if giving pramlintide and insulin before a meal would lower high blood sugar and if a glucagon (a naturally made hormone in the body but reduced in diabetes and its role is in prevention of low blood sugar) shot given in the late "after meal" time would prevent low blood sugar. The studies outlined in this proposal might help in developing new treatment options to target "after meal" high blood sugar and before meal low blood sugar in children. This would possibly help improve overall blood sugar control and prevent the long-term complications of diabetes.

Sensor-Augmented Insulin Delivery: Insulin Plus Glucagon vs Insulin Alone [Recruiting]
This study aims to test an insulin and glucagon delivery algorithm designed to be used in conjunction with a continuous glucose monitoring system. This combined glucose sensing/hormone delivery approach is a step on the way to eventual development of an artificial (or automated) pancreas. The insulin and glucagon delivery algorithm is based on the difference between the current blood glucose and the target glucose (proportional error) and the rate of change in blood glucose (derivative error), both adjusted for the recent glucose history. This algorithm is called the Fading Memory Proportional-Derivative (FMPD) Insulin and Glucagon Delivery Algorithm. The principal investigator of this study has published previous research regarding the use of this algorithm and found it to be well-suited to control blood glucose in type 1 diabetic animals. The addition of glucagon was helpful; better glycemic control with fewer glucose excursions were observed when small intermittent infusions of subcutaneous glucagon were given during times of impending low blood sugar (Ward et al. 2008).

The objective of the current human study is to compare glycemic control in persons with Type 1 Diabetes using the FMPD Insulin plus Glucagon Delivery Algorithm vs. the FMPD Insulin-Alone Algorithm. Subjects will undergo two 28-hour sensor-augmented glycemic control studies. Each subject will be fitted with two short term continuous glucose monitoring systems and two subcutaneous infusion catheters. These catheters will allow for SC delivery of insulin and glucagon (or insulin plus a glucagon placebo). The accuracy of the wire sensors will be verified every 10 minutes with a venous blood glucose test. For the first 4 hours, the insulin and glucagon delivery will be controlled by venous blood in order to assess and compare the accuracy of the two sensors, after which the more accurate sensor (if it remains accurate) will control the FMPD algorithm. The main outcomes of our study are time spent in

the target range (70 - 180 mg/dl) and the percentage of studies requiring intervention due to

hypoglycemia (glucose < 70 mg/dl). The accuracy of the sensors over the life of the study will also be evaluated.

The specific system used in this study of frequent blood testing and the use of two separate infusion pumps is not feasible for every day use for individuals with diabetes. However, if the glucose control algorithm (with or without the use of glucagon) provides effective blood glucose management over long time periods the calculation program may be integrated into a continuous blood glucose monitoring system with an insulin and glucagon pump.

GIP, GLP-1 and GLP-2 in Type 2 Diabetic Hyperglucagonemia [Recruiting]
In order to investigate the mechanisms underlying the hyperglucagonemia characterizing patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) we wish to test the following hypothesis: Do pancreatic alpha-cells exhibit inappropriate glucagon responses to substances released from the small intestine (GIP, GLP-2 and GLP-2) in patients with T2DM?

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