What is Baqsimi (glucagon) and how is it used?
Baqsimi is a prescription medicine used to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in people with diabetes ages 4 years and above.
What are the most important side effects and other facts about Baqsimi (glucagon)?
Baqsimi may cause serious side effects, including:
- High blood pressure. Baqsimi can cause high blood pressure in certain people with tumors in their adrenal glands.
- Low blood sugar. Baqsimi can cause certain people with tumors in their pancreas to have low blood sugar.
Serious allergic reaction. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you have a serious allergic reaction including:
- rash
- difficulty breathing
- low blood pressure
Other side effects of Baqsimi (glucagon)
The most common side effects of Baqsimi include:
- nausea
- runny nose
- redness in your eyes
- vomiting
- discomfort in your nose
- itchy nose, throat and eyes
- headache
- stuffy nose
- watery eyes
These are not all the possible side effects of Baqsimi. For more information, ask your healthcare provider.
Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the dosage for Baqsimi (glucagon)?
- Read the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with Baqsimi.
- Use Baqsimi exactly how your healthcare provider tells you to use it.
- Make sure your caregiver knows where you keep your Baqsimi and how to use Baqsimi the right way before you need their help.
- Your healthcare provider will tell you how and when to use Baqsimi.
- Baqsimi contains only 1 dose of medicine and cannot be reused.
- Baqsimi should be given in one side of your nose (nostril) but does not need to be inhaled.
- Baqsimi will work even if you have a cold or are taking cold medicine.
- After giving Baqsimi, the caregiver should call for emergency medical help right away.
- If the person does not respond after 15 minutes, another dose may be given, if available.
- Tell your healthcare provider each time you use Baqsimi.
Baqsimi (glucagon) contraindications, pregnancy safety and drug interactions
It is not known if Baqsimi is safe and effective in children under 4 years of age.
Do not use Baqsimi if you:
- have a tumor in the gland on top of your kidneys (adrenal gland) called pheochromocytoma.
- have a tumor in your pancreas called insulinoma.
- are allergic to glucagon, or any other ingredients in Baqsimi.
Before using Baqsimi, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have a tumor in your pancreas.
- have not had food or water for a long time (prolonged fasting or starvation).
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Baqsimi passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you can use Baqsimi while breastfeeding.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.