Double-blind radiographic study of dose response to intravenous glucagon for hypotonic duodenography.

This study was undertaken to determine a dose response to glucagon during hypotonic duodenography. Fifteen male and female volunteers received placebo and 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg of glucagon intravenously, double-blind, and crossover. Onset of drug effect occurred in approximately 45 seconds, regardless of the dose of glucagon given. There was a significant (p less than 0.01) decrease in gastrointestinal tonicity with all doses. The larger the dose, the greater the duration of drug action. Satisfactory stomach, duodenal, and small bowel hypotonicity for radiography were obtained with 0.25 to 0.5 mg of glucagon given intravenously with few side effects.