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| Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
| Contents of this page: | |
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.--
In Canada--
Generic name product may be available in the U.S.
Desmopressin (des-moe-PRES-in) is a hormone taken through the nose, by mouth, or given by injection to prevent or control the frequent urination, increased thirst, and loss of water associated with diabetes insipidus (water diabetes). It is used also to control bed-wetting and frequent urination and increased thirst associated with certain types of brain injuries or brain surgery. Desmopressin works by acting on the kidneys to reduce the flow of urine.
Desmopressin is also given by injection to treat some patients with certain bleeding problems such as hemophilia or von Willebrand's disease.
Desmopressin is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For desmopressin, the following should be considered:
Allergies--Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to desmopressin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy--Studies have not been done in pregnant women. Desmopressin has been used before and during pregnancy to treat diabetes insipidus and has not been shown to cause birth defects.
Breast-feeding--Desmopressin passes into breast milk in very small amounts. 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 likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of desmopressin.
Other medicines--Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems--The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of desmopressin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Use this medicine only as directed . Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.
For patients using the nasal solution form of this medicine:
Dosing--When you are using desmopressin, it is very important that you get the exact amount of medicine that you need. The dose of desmopressin will be different for different patients. Your doctor will determine the proper dose of desmopressin for you.
The number of doses you use each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you use the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using desmopressin .
Missed dose--If you miss a dose of this medicine and your dosing schedule is:
Storage--To store this medicine:
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Chills; confusion; convulsions (seizures); decreased urination; drowsiness; fever; headache (continuing); shortness of breath, tightness in chest, trouble in breathing, or wheezing; skin rash, hives, or itching; weight gain (rapid)
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if the following side effect occurs:
Rare
Fast heartbeat
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
Less common or rare
Abdominal or stomach cramps; flushing or redness of skin; nausea; pain in the vulva (genital area outside of the vagina)
With intranasal (through the nose) use
Cough; nosebleed; runny or stuffy nose; sneezing; sore throat
With intravenous use
Pain, redness, or swelling at place of injection
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, desmopressin is used in certain patients to determine the cause of Cushing's syndrome.
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for this use.
Revised: 06/04/99
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