Gvoke (glucagon) can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. More common side effects include nausea and vomiting. If side effects from Gvoke become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor about coping tips or other treatment options.

Gvoke is used to:

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Gvoke can cause.

Gvoke can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult for you to tolerate.

The following lists contain a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Gvoke in studies. Side effects of this drug can vary depending on the condition being treated.

More common side effects in adults with diabetes taking Gvoke for low blood sugar include:

  • headache
  • nausea and vomiting
  • injection site reactions

More common side effects in healthy adults taking Gvoke during a radiologic exam include:

  • nausea
  • altered sense of taste

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

Mild side effects have been reported with Gvoke. These include:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • headache
  • injection site reactions
  • altered sense of taste
  • hot flush
  • dizziness
  • abdominal pain
  • racing heartbeat

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop Gvoke treatment unless your doctor recommends it.

Gvoke may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

Gvoke may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Gvoke’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Gvoke, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported include:

  • low blood sugar
  • high blood sugar
  • necrolytic migratory erythema (a severe skin rash)

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect during treatment with Gvoke and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Gvoke can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Gvoke treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Gvoke, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Gvoke is approved to treat severe low blood sugar in children ages 2 years and older. The side effects in children and adults were similar. Additional side effects were reported in children that weren’t seen in adults. These include:

  • low blood sugar
  • high blood sugar
  • abdominal pain
  • hives

While taking Gvoke, you may be able to take steps to make side effects easier to manage.

If you have problems with side effects, they do not go away, or they become worse, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss options for managing side effects or other available treatment options.

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting were common side effects reported in studies of Gvoke. Nausea is also common when your blood sugar is too low. So sometimes it can be hard to tell whether Gvoke is the cause of this side effect.

People sometimes lose consciousness (pass out) from low blood sugar episodes. In such cases, someone else has to give them Gvoke. If this happens, be sure to turn the person on their side after injecting Gvoke. This will help prevent them from choking if they have nausea and vomiting.

After receiving Gvoke and responding to the medication, you’ll need to eat or drink something sugary to raise your blood sugar level. Nausea and vomiting are usually mild side effects that go away over time. But if you have severe vomiting after receiving Gvoke, you may experience another episode of hypoglycemia. This is one of the reasons it’s important to call 911 after taking Gvoke in such a situation.

Injection site reactions

Injection site reactions were a common side effect reported in studies of Gvoke. These reactions may include pain, swelling, or redness or discoloration in the area where you received the injection.

If you have symptoms that bother you, applying an ice pack to the area may help relieve pain or swelling. Talk with your doctor if you have symptoms that don’t go away or are getting worse.

Consider the following important information before taking Gvoke.

Other precautions

Before taking Gvoke, discuss your health history with your doctor. Gvoke may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.