Desmopressin helps control the symptoms of diabetes insipidus (water diabetes) where the body produces an abnormally large amount of urine.
This medicine is also used to control excessive thirst and it reduces the production of an abnormally large amount of urine that occurs after a head injury or certain types of surgery.
Desmopressin may also be used to prevent and treat bleeding problems.
Desmopressin is to be given as an injection.
Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you.
The injection may be given in one of many ways:
Intravenously: into the vein which is delivered directly into the blood stream.
Subcutaneously: into the fatty layer under the skin such as the thigh, upper arm or abdomen area.
Intramuscularly: into the muscle such as the buttocks, upper leg or upper arm.
Ensure that you keep all appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any dose. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Desmopressin.
If you miss an appointment or miss an injection, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or injection should be given as soon as possible.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- heart disease
- severe kidney disease
- hyponatraemia (low sodium level in the blood)
as Desmopressin may not be suitable for you.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- conditions which may cause water and salt imbalance such as heart failure or cystic fibrosis (a disease that causes thick, sticky mucus build up in the lungs)
- bleeding disorder
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
While you are being treated with Desmopressin, you may need to limit your intake of water or other fluids. Your doctor will advise you about how much water or fluid you can take.
Desmopressin may cause any of the following side effects: pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. It may also cause headache, nausea, flushing of the face, stomach discomfort or pain and rashes.
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines to treat depression e.g. fluoxetine, escitalopram, amitriptyline, clomipramine
- NSAIDs (medicines for pain and inflammation) e.g. ibuprofen, indomethacin
- medicines for mood disorders e.g. chlorpromazine, haloperidol, thioridazine
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. carbamazepine
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Desmopressin.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in the refrigerator, between 2-8 °C. Do not allow to freeze. If frozen, this medicine will become ineffective and should not be used.
Once opened, use it immediately. Throw away any solution that is not used. If you notice that the solution has changed colour or has become cloudy, do not use it. Throw it away and use a new injection.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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