Glucagon
A native pancreatic peptide hormone with approved emergency and diagnostic uses.
- Evidence grade
- AStrong Clinical Evidence
Strong Clinical Evidence
- Regulatory status
- FDA Approved for Specific Indication
FDA-approved products treat severe hypoglycemia; selected injectable products also have adult radiologic diagnostic-aid indications. Labels differ by product.
- Human data
- Yes
Registered clinical trials exist
- Last reviewed
- October 27, 2026
Overview
A native pancreatic peptide hormone with approved emergency and diagnostic uses.
FDA-approved products treat severe hypoglycemia; selected injectable products also have adult radiologic diagnostic-aid indications. Labels differ by product.
Formulation-specific age groups and indications differ, and a depleted glycogen supply may limit glucose recovery.
Why It's Being Studied
- Severe hypoglycemia
- Gastrointestinal diagnostic physiology
Mechanism of Action
It activates hepatic glucagon receptors to increase glucose production and can inhibit gastrointestinal motility.
It activates hepatic glucagon receptors to increase glucose production and can inhibit gastrointestinal motility. Formulation-specific age groups and indications differ, and a depleted glycogen supply may limit glucose recovery.
From molecular target to clinical evidence
Tap each stage to see what happens.
Background: Clinical Peptide Medicines
Clinical peptide medicines include endocrine treatments, antimicrobial drugs, receptor blockers and targeted diagnostic or cancer agents. They do not share one mechanism or one set of indications.
An approval belongs to a specific medicine and indication. A diagnostic tracer, an antibiotic and a hormone are not interchangeable wellness products; read each profile's own mechanism and prescribing source.
Research Areas & Routes Studied
- Severe hypoglycemia
- Gastrointestinal diagnostic physiology
- Injectable approved formulations
- Intranasal approved formulation
Evidence Summary
Clinical studies support glucose recovery in severe hypoglycemia; certain formulations also have diagnostic-aid evidence.
Higher tiers carry more weight. Filled tiers have evidence for Glucagon; tap to read it.
- Clinical studies support glucose recovery in severe hypoglycemia; certain formulations also have diagnostic-aid evidence.
1 cited sources.
- Prescribing label1
Human clinical evidence
- Clinical studies support glucose recovery in severe hypoglycemia; certain formulations also have diagnostic-aid evidence.
Reported Adverse Events in Research
- Nausea, vomiting and hyperglycemia can occur; insulinoma and pheochromocytoma are contraindications.
Limitations of Current Evidence
- Formulation-specific age groups and indications differ, and a depleted glycogen supply may limit glucose recovery.
- Findings apply to the product, route and population studied; they do not establish benefits or safety for unrelated wellness uses or research-vial products.
How to Read This Research
- Is this a single molecule or a family of medicines?
- Is the use diagnostic, therapeutic or investigational?
- Does the quoted outcome match the exact product, formulation and population?
- Use the compound-specific mechanism above; this diagram describes drug development, not a shared biological pathway.
- Historical approval, present availability and off-label use are distinct questions.
- For radiopharmaceuticals and hospital medicines, specialist handling is part of the treatment context.
- Indication
- The condition and population for which a medicine is approved.
- Antagonist
- A compound that blocks activity at a receptor.
- Radiopharmaceutical
- A medicine containing a radioactive isotope for imaging or treatment.
Compare With Other Compounds
| Glucagon | Trofinetide | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence grade | A — Strong Clinical Evidence | B — Moderate Human Evidence |
| Regulatory status | FDA Approved for Specific Indication | FDA Approved for Specific Indication |
| Human data | Yes | Yes |
| Clinical trials | Registered trials exist | Registered trials exist |
| Research routes | Injectable approved formulations, Intranasal approved formulation | Oral approved medicine |
| Cited sources | 1 | 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Research References
- Prescribing label
Glucagon — prescribing label