GlucaGen HypoKit - 1mg

GlucaGen HypoKit - 1mg

GlucaGen HypoKit is an injection of glucagon hydrochloride, a hormone that raises the level of glucose (a form of sugar) in the blood.

GlucaGen is a Prescription only medicine (POM).

GlucaGen HypoKit Indications

GlucaGen HypoKit contains the active substance “glucagon”.

GlucaGen HypoKit is for immediate, emergency use for children and adults with diabetes who use insulin.

It is used when they have passed out (become unconscious) because of very low blood sugar.

This is called “severe hypoglycaemia”.

GlucaGen HypoKit is used when they are not able to take sugar by mouth.

Glucagon is a natural hormone, which has the opposite effect of insulin in the human body.

It helps the liver to change something called “glycogen” into glucose (sugar). Glucose is then released into the blood stream which makes the blood sugar level rise.

Therapeutic indication:

GlucaGen is indicated for treatment of severe hypoglycaemic reactions, which may occur in the management of insulin treated children and adults with diabetes mellitus.

Diagnostic indication:

GlucaGen is indicated for motility inhibition in examinations of the gastrointestinal tract in adults.

GlucaGen HypoKit Features & Benefits

• Works fast - Glucagen HypoKit raises blood glucose levels within 10 minutes of injection.
• Convenient - Contains 1mg (1 unit) of glucagon and a disposable syringe with sterile water.

How to use GlucaGen HypoKit

Always use this medicine exactly as described in the product leaflet or as your doctor has told you.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Preparing and giving the injection

1. Remove the plastic cap from the vial. Pull the needle cover off the syringe. Do not remove the plastic back-stop from the syringe. Insert the needle through the rubber stopper (within the marked circle) of the vial containing GlucaGen and inject all the liquid from the syringe into the vial.

2. Without taking the needle out of the vial, gently shake the vial until GlucaGen has completely
dissolved, and the solution is clear.

3. Make sure the plunger is completely down. While keeping the needle in the liquid, slowly withdraw all the solution back into the syringe. Do not pull the plunger out of the syringe. It is important to remove any air bubbles from the syringe:

• With the needle pointing upwards, tap the syringe with your finger
• Push the plunger slightly to release any air that has collected at the top of the syringe.

Continue to push the plunger until you have the correct dose for injection. A small amount of liquid will be pushed out when you do this.

4. Inject the dose under the skin or into a muscle.

5. Turn the unconscious person on their side to prevent choking.

6. Give the person a high sugar snack like sweets, biscuits or fruit juice as soon as he or she regains consciousness and is able to swallow. The high sugar snack will stop the low blood sugar happening again.

After using GlucaGen HypoKit, you or someone else must contact your doctor or a healthcare provider. You need to find out why you had such low blood sugar and how to avoid it happening again.

How much GlucaGen to use

The recommended dose is:

Adults: inject all of the medicine (1 ml) – this is marked as “1” on the syringe.

Children younger than 8 years or children older than 8 years who weigh less than 25 kg:
inject half of the medicine (0.5 ml) – this is marked as “0.5” on the syringe.

Children older than 8 years or children younger than 8 years who weigh more than 25 kg:
inject all of the medicine (1 ml) – this is marked as “1” on the syringe.

If you are given more GlucaGen

Too much GlucaGen may lead to nausea and cause you to be sick (vomit).

Specific treatment is not usually necessary.

How to store GlucaGen HypoKit

Keep GlucaGen HypoKit out of the sight and reach of children.

• Store either:
  - in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C), or
  - out of a refrigerator below 25°C for up to 18 months within the shelf life period.
• Store in the original package to protect it from light
• Do not freeze, to prevent damage to the product.
• Use immediately after mixing – do not store for later use.
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date - this is on the label. The expiry date refers to the
  last date of that month.
• Do not use if the mixed solution looks like a gel or if any of the powder has not dissolved properly.
• Do not use if the plastic cap is loose or missing when you receive the product – return the product to your local pharmacy.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

GlucaGen Ingredients

Active ingredient:

• 1mg of glucagon hydrochloride powder

Other ingredients:

• Lactose monohydrate.
• Water for injections.
• Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment).

Information on GlucaGen HypoKit for healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals should refer to the patient leaflet.

Due to the instability of GlucaGen in solution, the product should be given immediately after reconstitution and must not be given as an intravenous infusion.

Do not attempt to put the cap back on the needle of the used syringe. Place the used syringe in the orange box and dispose the used needle in a sharps container at the next available opportunity.

Treatment of severe hypoglycaemia

Administer by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. If the patient does not respond within 10 minutes, intravenous glucose should be given. When the patient has responded to the treatment, give oral carbohydrate to restore the liver glycogen and prevent relapse of hypoglycaemia.

Diagnostic procedures

Oral carbohydrates should be given when the procedure has ended, if this is compatible with the diagnostic procedure concerned. Remember that GlucaGen has the opposite effect of insulin. With endoscopy or radiography procedures, take extra care in administering GlucaGen to patients with diabetes or to elderly people with a heart condition.

Note that a syringe with a thinner needle and a finer graduation may be more suitable for use in
diagnostic procedures.

Examination of the gastrointestinal tract:

Doses vary from 0.2 – 2 mg depending on the diagnostic technique used and the route of administration. The diagnostic dose for relaxation of the stomach, duodenal bulb, duodenum and small bowel is 0.2 – 0.5 mg given intravenously or 1 mg given intramuscularly. The dose to relax the colon is 0.5 – 0.75 mg intravenously or 1 – 2 mg intramuscularly. The onset of effect after an intravenous injection of 0.2 – 0.5 mg occurs within one minute and the duration of the effect is between 5 – 20 minutes. The onset of action after an intramuscular injection of 1 – 2 mg occurs after 5 – 15 minutes and lasts approximately 10 – 40 minutes.

Contents

• 1 x 1mg GlucaGen HypoKit dose with dilutent

References and useful links for more information on GlucaGen HypoKit:

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/glucagon/medicinal-forms/
• Report an issue with a medicine to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/