Radiology, Vol 127, 49-53, Copyright © 1978 by Radiological Society of North America
Dose response to intramuscular glucagon during hypotonic radiography
RE Miller, SM Chernish, RL Brunelle and BD Rosenak
In a study to determine a dose response to glucagon during hypotonic
duodenography, 15 male and female volunteers received placebo and 0.25 mg 1
mg and 2 mg glucagon intramuscularly, double-blind and cross-over. When
0.25 mg glucagon was given, the onset of drug effect was approximately
13--18 min: the mean duration of moderate hypotonicity was approximately
4--7 min. The larger the dose, the greater the duration of drug action.
When 2 mg glucagon was given, the onset of drug effect occurred in
approximately 4--7 min; the mean duration of moderate hypotonicity was
22--32 min. There were no changes in pulse or blood pressure attributable
to the drug with these doses, and reports of nausea and diarrhea did not
increase significantly until a dose above 1 mg was given. One mg glucagon
given IM is useful in hypotonic upper Gl radiographic examinations. The
onset of hypotonicity was 8--10 min with a duration of 12--27 min when this
dose was given. Few reports of side effects were attributable to this dose.
