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DESMOPRESSIN (des moe PRESS in) treats diabetes insipidus, a condition that causes the body to make too much urine. It works by helping your kidneys make less urine, which balances the levels of fluid and salt in your body. This decreases symptoms such as thirst and frequent need to urinate.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
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Take this medication by mouth. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. Use a specially marked oral syringe, spoon, or dropper to measure each dose. Ask your pharmacist if you do not have one. Household spoons are not accurate. Take it on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after food. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop.
Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While it may be prescribed for children for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
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Do not take this medication with any of the following:
-Loop diuretics, such as furosemide
-Steroid medications, such as prednisone or cortisone
This medication may also interact with the following:
-Chlorpromazine
-Some medications for depression, such as amitriptyline, imipramine, fluoxetine
-Some medications for seizures, such as carbamazepine or lamotrigine
-NSAIDS, medications for pain and inflammation, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
-Opioids
-Oxybutynin
-Thiazide diuretics, such as chlorothiazide
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
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Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.
You may need blood work done while you are taking this medication.
This medication may cause low levels of salt (sodium) in your blood. You may be at risk of low salt levels if your fluid and body salt levels are out of balance. This can happen if you drink a lot of fluid, take other medications that lower salt levels, or if you are sick. Talk to your care team right away if you have fever, infection, vomiting, or diarrhea while taking this medication. Talk to your care team about all the medications you take. They may recommend changes to your treatment plan. This can include more frequent blood work or a change to your medications.
You may need to be on a special diet while you are taking this medication. Ask your care team. Also, find out how many glasses of fluids you need to drink each day.
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If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
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Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
-Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
-Low sodium level—muscle weakness, fatigue, dizziness, headache, confusion
-Swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
-Diarrhea
-Dizziness
-Flushing
-Headache
-Nausea
-Stomach pain
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Store refrigerated or at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Do not freeze. Get rid of any unused medication 120 days after opening the bottle or after it expires, whichever is first.
To get rid of medications that are no longer needed or have expired:
-Take the medication to a take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
-If you cannot return the medication, check the label or package insert to see if the medication should be thrown out in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your care team. If it is safe to put it in the trash, empty the medication out of the container. Mix it with cat litter, dirt, coffee grounds, or another unwanted substance. Seal the mixture in a bag or container. Put it in the trash.
NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
DISCLAIMER: This drug information content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients should always consult their physician with any questions regarding a medical condition and to obtain medical advice and treatment. Drug information is sourced from GSDD (Gold Standard Drug Database ) provided by Elsevier.
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