Desmopressin

Desmopressin is used to treat

• diabetes insipidus ('water diabetes'; condition in which the body produces an abnormally large amount of urine)
• excessive thirst and urination that may occur after a head injury or after pituitary (a small gland in the brain) surgery, and
• bedwetting

Desmopressin is in a class of medications called hormones. It works by replacing vasopressin, a hormone that is normally produced in the body to help balance the amount of water and salt.

Desmopressin comes as a tablet and an oral solution (liquid) to take by mouth. Your doctor will tell you how often to take desmopressin tablets depending on the condition that you have. Take the oral solution twice a day on an empty stomach, at least one hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Take desmopressin at around the same time(s) every day.

Take desmopressin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Use a dosing syringe to measure and take your dose of desmopressin oral solution. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about how much medication you should take or how to use the dosing syringe.

If you are taking desmopressin to treat bed-wetting, avoid drinking fluids for at least one hour before and for at least 8 hours after you take desmopressin.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of desmopressin and gradually increase your dose. Follow these directions carefully. Your doctor will also monitor you closely and may adjust your dose depending on how your body responds to the medication. Talk to your doctor about how are are feeling during your treatment.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking desmopressin,

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this medication, any part of this medication, or any other medications, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take while taking desmopressin. Your doctor may need to change the doses of these medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• the following nonprescription products may interact with desmopressin: aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®) and naproxen (Aleve^®, Naprosyn^®). Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking these medications before you start taking desmopressin. Do not start any of these medications while taking desmopressin without discussing with your healthcare provider.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney disease or a low level of sodium in your blood. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take desmopressin.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had high blood pressure, any condition that causes you to be extremely thirsty, cystic fibrosis,  problems urinating, increased pressure in your brain (increased intracranial pressure), blood circulation problems, or heart failure or other heart problems.
• tell your doctor if you develop an infection, fever, vomiting, or diarrhea; or if you plan to exercise more than usual, especially if the weather is unusually hot. You may need to drink more fluid than usual in these situations. Drinking too much fluid while you are taking desmopressin can be dangerous, so your doctor will probably tell you to stop taking desmopressin temporarily.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking desmopressin, call your doctor.
• this medication may not be recommended in people 65 years or older. There may be other treatment options that are safer or work better. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medication.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Your doctor may tell you to limit the amount of fluid you drink during your treatment with desmopressin. Follow your doctor's directions carefully to prevent serious side effects.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Desmopressin may cause side effects. Call your doctor if either of the following symptoms is severe or does not go away:

• diarrhea
• constipation
• stomach cramps

Some side effects may be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• weight gain
• headache
• irritability
• restlessness
• extreme tiredness
• slowed reflexes
• muscle weakness, spasms, or cramps
• confusion, feeling disoriented, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), or decreased consciousness
• seizures
• rash; hives; swelling of face, eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue or throat; difficulty breathing or swallowing; or feeling dizzy or faint

Desmopressin may cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you experience any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store the tablets at room temperature, away from heat, light, and moisture (not in the bathroom). Store the oral solution either in the refrigerator or at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Do not freeze. Dispose of any unused oral solution 120 days after first opening the bottle.

Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org

Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

• confusion
• drowsiness
• headache
• difficulty urinating
• sudden weight gain

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your response to desmopressin.

Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.

• DDAVP^®
• Desmoda^®