glucagon vs octreotide
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of glucagon and octreotide. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
7.2 Insulin and Oral Hypoglycemic Drugs Octreotide inhibits the secretion of insulin and glucagon.
Baqsimi, GlucaGen
Sandostatin
Glucagon is a medicine that helps raise your blood sugar if it gets too low. It can also be used to temporarily slow down your digestive system for certain medical tests.
Octreotide is a drug that mimics a natural hormone in your body. It is used to treat certain conditions caused by too much of certain hormones.
Glucagon is used to treat very low blood sugar in adults and children who have diabetes. It can also be used to help with some X-ray tests in adults. It does this by slowing down the movement of your stomach and intestines.
Octreotide is used to lower growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in people with acromegaly who haven't responded to other treatments. It also helps manage severe diarrhea and flushing caused by carcinoid tumors. Additionally, it can treat watery diarrhea caused by VIPomas (tumors that release vasoactive intestinal peptide).
Glucagon works by telling your liver to release stored sugar into your blood. This raises your blood sugar level quickly. It also relaxes the muscles in your stomach and intestines.
This medicine works by mimicking somatostatin, a natural hormone in your body. It reduces the amount of certain hormones, like growth hormone, that your body makes. By doing this, it helps control the symptoms caused by having too much of these hormones.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Weakness
- • Gallbladder problems
- • Slow heart rate
- • Diarrhea
- • Loose stools
- • Nausea
- Dyspnoea 354
- Acute Kidney Injury 313
- Hypotension 286
- Hypoglycaemia 268
- Condition Aggravated 244
- Diarrhoea 526
- Death 375
- Nausea 345
- Fatigue 305
- Malignant Neoplasm Progression 235
You should not take this medicine if you have a tumor in your adrenal gland called pheochromocytoma. It can cause a large increase in blood pressure. Also, you should not take it if you have a tumor called insulinoma, as it can cause low blood sugar. Do not take if you are allergic to glucagon.
Octreotide can cause heart problems, including a higher risk of certain types of heart block. Your doctor may monitor your heart if you receive this drug intravenously. It can also cause gallbladder problems, high or low blood sugar, and thyroid issues. Tell your doctor right away if you notice new or worsening symptoms.
Studies haven't shown any risk to the baby during pregnancy. Glucagon is not expected to cause harm to a breastfeeding infant because it will be broken down in the baby's stomach.
There is limited information about the safety of octreotide during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if octreotide passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while using this medicine.
How to Read This glucagon vs octreotide Comparison
glucagon is classified in the Glucagon (Hypoglycemia Rescue) drug class, while octreotide sits within the Somatostatin Analog class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, glucagon has 1,465 submissions while octreotide has 1,786. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to octreotide blocks the body from releasing its own glucagon. this can interfere with how the body naturally controls blood sugar levels.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for glucagon or octreotide.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.