Baqsimi Nasal Spray: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Baqsimi Nasal Spray contains the active ingredient glucagon and belongs to the glucose elevating agents drug class. It is a glucagon nasal powder used to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in people with diabetes. It is sprayed into the nose, which makes it easier to give than glucagon that is injected.

What is Baqsimi Nasal Spray

Baqsimi is a glucagon nasal powder used to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in people with diabetes. It is sprayed into the nose, which makes it easier to give than glucagon that is injected.

Baqsimi Nasal Spray uses

• Treating severe hypoglycemia (very low blood sugar) in adults and children aged 4 years and older with diabetes
• For use when a person cannot safely swallow oral glucose or is unconscious due to severe low blood sugar

Benefits of Baqsimi Nasal Spray

• Treats severe hypoglycemia
• Rapidly raises blood glucose
• Does not require an injection
• Can be administered by a caregiver
• Does not need to be inhaled into the lungs

How Baqsimi Nasal Spray works

Baqsimi contains glucagon, a hormone that tells the liver to release its stored sugar (glycogen) into the blood. This raises blood sugar levels quickly. It only works if the liver has enough stored sugar available.

Baqsimi Nasal Spray dosage

Baqsimi is for use in the nose only — do not swallow it or take it by mouth. Do not test or press the plunger until you are ready to give the dose. Insert the tip gently into one nostril until your fingers touch the outside of the nose, then press the plunger all the way in. The person does not need to sniff or inhale the powder for it to work. Each device holds only one dose and cannot be reused. It will still work even if the person has a cold or is taking cold medicine.

After giving the dose, call for emergency medical help right away. If the person is unconscious, turn them on their side. If the person does not respond within 15 minutes, a second dose from a new device may be given if available, while waiting for emergency help. Once the person can safely swallow, give a fast-acting sugar source like juice or regular soda, followed by a longer-acting sugar source like crackers with cheese or peanut butter. Tell your healthcare provider every time you use Baqsimi so your diabetes treatment can be reviewed.

Available forms and strengths

• Intranasal powder device (3 mg glucagon per device)

Side effects of Baqsimi Nasal Spray

Common

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Nose discomfort or irritation
• Nosebleed
• Watery, red, or itchy eyes
• Cough
• Itchy nose, throat, or eyes
• Sore throat
• Tiredness or sleepiness
• Change in taste or smell
• Increased heart rate

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction such as rash, hives, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, dizziness or fainting, and fast heartbeat
• High blood pressure in people with a tumor of the adrenal gland, with symptoms like severe headache, blurred vision, or pounding in the neck or ears
• Low blood sugar in people with a pancreas tumor called insulinoma

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use Baqsimi if you are allergic to glucagon or any of its ingredients, or if you have a tumor of the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma) or a tumor of the pancreas (insulinoma).
• Baqsimi should only be given when the person cannot safely swallow sugar. After giving it, call for medical help right away and wait, since the person may still need glucose given directly into a vein.
• Baqsimi will not work if the person doesn't have enough sugar stored in the liver, such as from long-term fasting, adrenal gland problems, or ongoing low blood sugar. In these cases, glucose must be given into a vein instead.
• Make sure family, friends, and caregivers know where Baqsimi is kept and how to use it before an emergency happens.
• It is not known if Baqsimi will harm an unborn baby. Talk with your doctor about the possible benefits and unknown risks before using it if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
• It is not known if Baqsimi passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
• Baqsimi needs stored sugar in the liver to work. It may not work well in people who haven't eaten for a long time, have chronic low blood sugar, or have adrenal gland problems that affect these sugar stores.
• Drinking alcohol can lower blood sugar and may make Baqsimi less effective.
• Low blood sugar can affect your ability to concentrate and react. After using Baqsimi, wait until you know your blood sugar is back to normal before driving or using machines, since low blood sugar can return.

Storage

• Store Baqsimi in the shrink-wrapped tube at temperatures up to 86°F (30°C)
• Do not remove the shrink wrap or open the tube until ready to use it
• If the tube has been opened, the medicine may have been exposed to moisture and may not work as expected
• Throw away the used device and tube after use; it can go in household trash
• Keep out of the reach and sight of children
• Only use before the expiration date printed on the carton or tube; replace before it expires

When to see a doctor

• Call for emergency medical help right away after giving Baqsimi, even if the person seems to recover.
• Get immediate medical help if signs of a serious allergic reaction occur, such as wheezing, trouble breathing or swallowing, sweating, rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, fast heartbeat, collapse, or low blood pressure.
• If the person does not respond within 15 minutes of the first dose, they may need glucose given directly into a vein as soon as possible.
• If you think too much Baqsimi has been given, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control center right away, even if there are no symptoms.

Alternatives

• Injectable glucagon
• Glucagon autoinjector
• Glucagon prefilled syringe