NATIONAL
CALIFORNIA
VENTURA
category
mechanism
- Promotes hepatic glycogenolysis (breakdown of starch to glucose) and gluconeogenesis (creation of glucose from proteins and fats), causing a raise in blood glucose levels; antihypoglycemic effect requires preexisting hepatic glycogen stores.
indications
- Treatment of severe hypoglycemia in adult and pediatric patients
- Beta-blocker overdose
- Calcium channel blocker overdose
contraindications
- Pheochromocytoma (rare, usually benign tumor that develops in an adrenal gland)
dosing
Adult:
IM, IV, SubQ: 1 mg, may repeat in 15 minutes as needed
Pediatric:
IM, IV, SubQ: 0.03 mg/kg/dose, may repeat every 15 minutes if needed up to a total of 3 doses, maximum dose: 1 mg/dose
administration
Rapid IV injection may be associated with increased nausea and vomiting.
onset
10 minutes
peak
20 minutes
duration
60 to 90 minutes
notes
- Oral carbohydrates: administer fast-acting and long-acting oral carbohydrates to patient as soon as possible after response to glucagon treatment
- Malnourished patients: Will be less effective on patients with low stored glycogen (typically alcoholics or other malnourished patients)
dosage form
Injection solution: 1 mg/mL
adverse reactions
- Gastrointestinal
- Nausea and vomiting
- Cardiovascular
- Hypertension
- Hypotension
- Tachycardia
structure
