BAQSIMI contains glucagon, an antihypoglycemic agent used to treat severe hypoglycemia. Glucagon is a single-chain polypeptide containing 29 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 3483, and is identical to human glucagon. Its molecular formula is C 153 H 225 N 43 O 49 S, with the following molecular structure: BAQSIMI is a preservative-free, white powder for intranasal administration in an intranasal device containing one dose of 3 mg glucagon. BAQSIMI contains glucagon as the active ingredient and betadex, and dodecylphosphocholine as the excipients. structure

What kind of drug is glucagon?

The FDA classifies glucagon as an antihypoglycemic agent. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take glucagon with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run glucagon against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is glucagon sold under?

We track 5 glucagon-containing products in the U.S.: Baqsimi, Gvoke Hypopen, Gvoke Kit, Gvoke Pfs and Gvoke Vialdx. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does glucagon come in?

Across the brands we track, glucagon is currently marketed as powder and injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic glucagon?

We do not currently list a generic-labelled glucagon product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.

Glucagon: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Glucagon is an antihypoglycemic agent sold in the U.S. under 5 brand and generic names, for anaphylaxis, bradycardia and hypoglycemia. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesHow we research

Key facts

Drug class: Antihypoglycemic Agent
Treats: Anaphylaxis, Bradycardia and Hypoglycemia
Available as: Powder · Injectable
Sold as: 5 products — Baqsimi, Gvoke Hypopen and Gvoke Kit, and others
Prescription?: Prescription only
Generic available?: Not in our catalog
Typical price: about $6206 for a 30-count supply

How glucagon is dosed

From the FDA label for Baqsimi (application NDA210134). Other glucagon products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

BAQSIMI is for intranasal use only. ( 2.1 ) The recommended dose of BAQSIMI is 3 mg administered as one actuation of the intranasal device into one nostril. ( 2.2 ) Administer BAQSIMI according to the printed instructions on the shrink-wrapped tube label and the Instructions for Use. ( 2.1 ) Administer the dose by inserting the tip into one nostril and pressing the device plunger all the way in until the green line is no longer showing. The dose does not need to be inhaled. ( 2.1 ) Call for emergency assistance immediately after administering the dose. ( 2.1 ) When the patient responds to treatment, give oral carbohydrates. ( 2.1 ) Do not attempt to reuse BAQSIMI. Each BAQSIMI device contains one dose of glucagon and cannot be reused. Discard any unused portion. ( 2.1 ) If there has been no response after 15 minutes, an additional 3 mg dose may be administered while waiting for emergency assistance. ( 2.2 ) 2.1 Important Administration Instructions BAQSIMI is for intranasal use only. Instruct patients and their caregivers on the signs and symptoms of severe hypoglycemia. Because severe hypoglycemia requires help of others to recover, instruct the patient to inform those around them about BAQSIMI and its Instructions for Use. Administer BAQSIMI as soon as possible when severe hypoglycemia is recognized. Instruct the patient or caregiver to read the…

Glucagon side effects

The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in labeling: Substantial Increase in Blood Pressure in Patients with Pheochromocytoma [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . Hypoglycemia in Patients with Insulinoma [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . Serious Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] . Lack of Efficacy in Patients with Decreased Hepatic Glycogen [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] . Most common (≥10%) adverse reactions associated with BAQSIMI are nausea, vomiting, headache, upper respiratory tract irritation (i.e., rhinorrhea, nasal discomfort, nasal congestion, cough, and epistaxis), watery eyes, redness of eyes, itchy nose, throat and eyes. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-423-4136 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of BAQSIMI cannot be directly compared with rates in clinical trials of other drugs and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse Reactions in Adult Patients Two similarly designed comparator-controlled trials, Study 1 and Study 2, evaluated the safety of a single intranasal dose of BAQSIMI compared to a 1 mg dose of intra-muscular glucagon…

Every glucagon product we track (5)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Glucagon products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Typical price
1	Baqsimi	Not yet rated	Prescription	Powder	Generic	$6206	View →
2	Gvoke Hypopen	Not yet rated	Prescription	Injectable	Generic	$6206	View →

Frequently asked questions

What is glucagon?: BAQSIMI contains glucagon, an antihypoglycemic agent used to treat severe hypoglycemia. Glucagon is a single-chain polypeptide containing 29 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 3483, and is identical to human glucagon. Its molecular formula is C 153 H 225 N 43 O 49 S, with the following molecular structure: BAQSIMI is a preservative-free, white powder for intranasal administration in an intranasal device containing one dose of 3 mg glucagon. BAQSIMI contains glucagon as the active ingredient and betadex, and dodecylphosphocholine as the excipients. structure
What kind of drug is glucagon?: The FDA classifies glucagon as an antihypoglycemic agent. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take glucagon with other medicines?: It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run glucagon against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is glucagon sold under?: We track 5 glucagon-containing products in the U.S.: Baqsimi, Gvoke Hypopen, Gvoke Kit, Gvoke Pfs and Gvoke Vialdx. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does glucagon come in?: Across the brands we track, glucagon is currently marketed as powder and injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic glucagon?: We do not currently list a generic-labelled glucagon product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.