DESMOPRESSIN (Systemic)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
- DDAVP Injection
- DDAVP Nasal Spray
- DDAVP Rhinal Tube
- DDAVP Tablets
- Stimate Nasal Spray
In Canada?
- DDAVP Injection
- DDAVP Spray
- DDAVP Rhinyle Nasal Solution
- DDAVP Tablets
- Octostim
Generic name product may be available in the U.S.
Category
- Antidiuretic, central diabetes insipidus
- antidiuretic, primary nocturnal enuresis
- antihemorrhagic
Description
Desmopressin (des-moe-PRES-in) is a hormone taken through the nose, by mouth, or givenby injection to prevent or control the frequent urination, increased thirst,and loss of water associated with diabetes insipidus (water diabetes). Itis used also to control bed-wetting and frequent urination and increased thirstassociated with certain types of brain injuries or brain surgery. Desmopressinworks by acting on the kidneys to reduce the flow of urine.
Desmopressin is also given by injection to treat some patients with certainbleeding problems such as hemophilia or von Willebrand's disease.
Desmopressin is available only with your doctor's prescription, in thefollowing dosage forms:
Nasal- Nasal solution (U.S. and Canada)
Oral- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Parenteral- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For desmopressin, thefollowing should be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to desmopressin. Also tell your health care professionalif you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,or dyes.
Pregnancy?Studies have not been done in pregnant women. Desmopressinhas been used before and during pregnancy to treat diabetes insipidus andhas not been shown to cause birth defects.
Breast-feeding?Desmopressin passes into breast milk in very smallamounts. However, it has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Children?Infants may be more sensitive to the effects of desmopressin.
Older adults?Some side effects (confusion, continuing headache,drowsiness, problem with urination, weight gain) may be especially likelyto occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than youngeradults to the effects of desmopressin.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health careprofessional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter[OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of desmopressin. Make sure you tell your doctorif you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Cystic fibrosis or
- Dehydration?Loss of sodium from the blood and serious sideeffects may be more likely to occur in patients with these conditions
- Headache, severe, or migraine or
- Heart or blood vessel disease or
- High blood pressure?Large doses of desmopressin can cause anincrease or decrease in blood pressure
- Kidney problems?Desmopressin should NOT be used.
- Stuffy nose caused by cold or allergy?May prevent nasal desmopressinfrom being absorbed through the lining of the nose into the blood stream
Proper Use of This Medicine
Use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it and do notuse it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chanceof side effects.
For patients using the nasal solution formof this medicine:
- This medicine usually comes with patient directions. Read them carefullybefore using this medicine.
- Do not use the nasal spray more times than thenumber indicated on the label. If you do, you may not receive the correctamount of medicine.
Dosing?When you are using desmopressin, it is veryimportant that you get the exact amount of medicine that you need. The doseof desmopressin will be different for different patients. Your doctor willdetermine the proper dose of desmopressin for you.
The number of doses you use each day, the time allowedbetween doses, and the length of time you use the medicine depend on the medicalproblem for which you are using desmopressin.
- For nasal dosage form (nasal solution):
- For preventing or controlling diabetes insipidus (water diabetes):
- Adults and teenagers?10 to 40 mcg used as a single dose orit may be divided into two or three doses a day.
- Children 3 months to 12 years of age?The dose is usually 0.05to 0.3 milliliters (mL) inhaled in each nostril one or two times a day.
- Children up to 3 months of age?Dose must be determined by yourdoctor.
- For controlling bed-wetting:
- Adults, teenagers, and children 6 years of age or older?Atfirst, 20 mcg inhaled into each nostril at bedtime. Then, yourdoctor may change the dose to 10 to 40 mcg a day.
- Children up to 6 years of age?Dose must be determined by yourdoctor.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For preventing or controlling diabetes insipidus (water diabetes):
- Adults, teenagers, and children?At first, 0.05 milligram (mg)two times a day. Then, your doctor may change the dose to 0.1 to 0.8 mg. Thedose may be divided into several doses a day.
- For controlling bed-wetting:
- Adults, teenagers, and children 6 years of age or older?Atfirst, 0.2 mg once a day at bedtime. Then, your doctor may increase the doseto as much as 0.6 mg a day.
- Children up to 6 years of age?Dose must be determined by yourdoctor.
- For parenteral dosage form (injection):
- For preventing or controlling frequent urination:
- Adults and teenagers?2 to 4 mcg injected into a muscle, vein,or under the skin. This dose is usually divided into two doses a day, onegiven in the morning, and the other given in the evening.
- Children?0.4 mcg or 0.025 mcg per kg (0.011 mcg per pound)of body weight injected into a muscle, vein, or under the skin once a day.
- For treating some bleeding problems such as hemophilia or von Willebrand'sdisease:
- Adults, teenagers, and children 11 months of age or older weighingmore than 10 kg (22 pounds)?The dose is based on body weight and mustbe determined by your doctor. It is usually 0.3 mcg per kg (0.14 mcg per pound)of body weight mixed in 50 milliliters (mL) of 0.9% sodium chloride. Thissolution is injected into a vein slowly over fifteen to thirty minutes. Yourdoctor may repeat this treatment if needed.
- Children 3 months of age or older weighing 10 kg (22 pounds) or less?Thedose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. It isusually 0.3 mcg per kg (0.14 mcg per pound) of body weight mixed in 10 mLof 0.9% sodium chloride. This solution is injected into a vein slowly overfifteen to thirty minutes. Your doctor may repeat this treatment if needed.
- Children up to 11 months of age?Use is not recommended.
Missed dose?If you miss a dose of this medicine and your dosingschedule is:
- One dose a day?Use the missed dose as soon as possible. Thengo back to your regular dosing schedule. However, if you do not remember themissed dose until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regulardosing schedule. Do not double doses.
- More than one dose a day?Use the missed dose as soon as possible.Then go back to your regular dosing schedule. However, if it is almost timefor your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosingschedule. Do not double doses.
Storage?To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store tablets in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or inother damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Store as directed on the label or by your health care professional.Keep the medicine from freezing.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwantedeffects. Although not all of these effects may occur, if they do occur theymay need medical attention.
Other side effects may occurthat usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go awayduring treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check withyour doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
With intranasal (through the nose) use
Other side effects not listed abovemay also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check withyour doctor.
Additional Information
Once a medicine has been approvedfor marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also usefulfor other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling,desmopressin is used in certain patients to determine the cause of Cushing'ssyndrome.
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relatingto proper use, precautions, or side effects for this use.
Revised: 12/01/2005
