DDAVP

Desmopressin is used to control the amount of urine your kidneys make. Normally, the amount of urine you make is controlled by a certain substance in the body called vasopressin. In people who have "water diabetes" (diabetes insipidus) or certain kinds of head injury or brain surgery, the body does not make enough vasopressin. Desmopressin is a man-made form of vasopressin and is used to replace a low level of vasopressin. This medication helps to control increased thirst and too much urination due to these conditions, and helps prevent dehydration. Desmopressin is also used to control bleeding caused by surgery or injuries in people with certain bleeding problems (hemophilia A, type 1 von Willebrand's disease). It works by helping the body with normal blood clotting.

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

This medication is given by injection into a vein or under the skin by a health care professional. When this medication is used to control increased thirst and too much urination, it is usually given twice a day or as directed by your doctor. If you are using this medication at home, learn all preparation and usage instructions from your health care professional. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day. If you have any questions about using this medication properly, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Before using, check this product visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. Learn how to store and discard needles and medical supplies safely. Consult your pharmacist for more details. Limit drinking of water and other fluids while using this medication, especially in children and older adults. Consult your doctor for details. If you find that you are drinking more fluids than directed, tell your doctor immediately. Your treatment will need to be adjusted. (See also Side Effects section.) Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Do not use more desmopressin or use it more often than prescribed. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if this medication stops working well.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: lithium. Other medications besides desmopressin may also affect the balance of water and sodium in your body. Therefore, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you take, including: narcotic pain relievers (such as morphine), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen), psychiatric medicines (such as chlorpromazine), drugs to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine), SSRI antidepressants (such as sertraline), tricyclic antidepressants (such as amitriptyline), "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide). This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as urine tests, blood tests, blood pressure, pulse) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: confusion, drowsiness, persistent/severe headache, sudden weight gain.

Before using desmopressin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: kidney disease, a low level of sodium in the blood (current or past hyponatremia). Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: high or low blood pressure, heart disease (such as blocked blood vessels in the heart), conditions that may increase your risk of fluid/mineral imbalance (such as cystic fibrosis, heart failure), the urge to drink too much water without being thirsty, history of blood clots. If you have lost too much body water (become dehydrated), your doctor will correct that condition first before starting treatment with desmopressin. This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can also interfere with how well desmopressin works. Tell the doctor immediately if you develop any illness that can cause water/mineral imbalance (including fever, diarrhea, vomiting, infections such as the flu) or if you experience conditions that require drinking more fluids (for example, exposure to very hot weather, strenuous exercise, persistent sweating). The doctor may need to stop or adjust desmopressin treatment, especially in children and older adults. Children may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially water/mineral imbalance and a low level of sodium in the blood. Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, older adults may be at greater risk for water/mineral imbalance and a low level of sodium in the blood while using this drug. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store this medication in the refrigerator between 36-46 degrees F (2-8 degrees C). Do not freeze. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Headache, nausea, upset stomach, flushing of the face, or redness/pain/swelling at the injection site may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Infrequently, desmopressin may affect your blood pressure. It may cause an increase or decrease in your blood pressure. A temporary drop in your blood pressure may result in dizziness and a fast heartbeat. Ask your doctor for more details, especially if you have heart problems or high or low blood pressure. Tell your doctor promptly if changes in your blood pressure occur or if any of these symptoms occur. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Desmopressin can infrequently cause a low level of sodium in the blood, which can be serious and possibly life-threatening. Drinking too much water or other fluids increases the risk of having a low level of sodium in the blood. Therefore, follow your doctor's directions for limiting fluids. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of these unlikely but serious symptoms of a low level of sodium in the blood: loss of appetite, severe nausea, vomiting, severe headache, muscle weakness/spasms/cramps, sudden weight gain, unusual tiredness, unusual severe drowsiness, mental/mood changes (such as confusion, hallucinations, irritability), loss of consciousness, seizures, slow/shallow breathing. Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but serious side effects occur: chest pain, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, sudden vision changes. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.