INFORMATION FOR CAREGIVERS

Be Prepared

In the event of a severe hypoglycemic episode, you will need to be confident and act quickly. It is important that you:

  • Read and understand the Instructions for Use in the package insert before an episode occurs.
  • Learn how to use the Glucagon Emergency Kit. Know where the kit is kept.
  • Practice giving the injection. This is important so you will be prepared in an emergency.
  • If you have questions, talk to the doctor or pharmacist.
  • Ask the healthcare provider for multiple prescriptions — one for home and one for on-the-go.
  • Check the expiration date. Do not use expired glucagon.

If the person you are caring for shows signs of very low blood sugar, use the Glucagon Emergency Kit immediately. After administration, call for emergency medical attention.

Where to find the GEK expiration date

Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia include:

  • Confusion
  • Unconsciousness
  • Seizures

You should administer glucagon if your patient is:

  • unconscious, or
  • having a seizure, or
  • confused and unable to eat sugar or a sugar-sweetened product

Suggestions for before & after administration:

  • Do not mix the glucagon until you are ready to use it.
  • To mix, combine the contents of the syringe with glucagon in the vial before giving the injection (See Instructions for Use).
  • Turn the person on their side; this will prevent choking.
  • Dispose of any leftover mixed glucagon.

Hypoglycemia may reoccur after receiving the glucagon injection.

Glucagon is not effective if taken by mouth.

Important Safety Information
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Indication and Usage
Glucagon is a prescription medicine used to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in people with diabetes.

Do not use Glucagon if:

  • 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.
  • you are allergic to glucagon or lactose or any of the ingredients in Glucagon.

Before using Glucagon, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have kidney problems.
  • have pancreas problems.
  • 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. It is not known if Glucagon will harm your unborn baby.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Glucagon 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. Glucagon may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Glucagon works. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

When using Glucagon, you should:

  • Read the detailed Instructions for Use that come with Glucagon.
  • Use Glucagon exactly as your doctor tells you to.
  • Make sure that you and your family know how to use Glucagon 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 Glucagon.
  • If the person does not respond after 15 minutes, another dose may be given, if available.
  • 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 Glucagon. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your diabetes medicines.

Glucagon may cause serious side effects, including:

  • High blood pressure. Glucagon can cause high blood pressure in certain people with tumors in their adrenal glands.
  • Low blood sugar. Glucagon can cause low blood sugar in patients with tumors in their pancreas called insulinomas and glucagonomas by making too much insulin in their bodies.
  • Serious allergic reactions. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have a serious allergic reaction including rash, difficulty breathing, or low blood pressure.

The most common side effects of Glucagon include:

  • swelling at the injection site
  • redness at the injection site
  • vomiting
  • nausea
  • decreased blood pressure
  • weakness
  • headache
  • dizziness
  • pale skin
  • diarrhea
  • sleepiness or drowsiness

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 Glucagon. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

This Important Safety Information does not include all the information needed to use Glucagon for Injection safely and effectively. To learn more about Glucagon for Injection, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Please see the full prescribing information for Glucagon for Injection and Patient Information. The full prescribing information is also available at www.fresenius-kabi.com/us.