Generic Name: vasopressin (vay soe PRES in)
Brand Names: Pitressin
What is vasopressin?
Vasopressin is a man-made form of a hormone called "anti-diuretic hormone" that is normally secreted by the pituitary gland. In the body, vasopressin acts on the kidneys and blood vessels.
Vasopressin helps prevent the loss of water from the body by reducing urine output and helping the kidneys reabsorb water in the body. Vasopressin also raises blood pressure by constricting (narrowing) blood vessels.
Vasopressin is used to treat diabetes insipidus, which is caused by a lack of this naturally occurring pituitary hormone in the body. Vasopressin is also used to treat or prevent certain conditions of the stomach after surgery or during abdominal x-rays.
Vasopressin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about vasopressin?
You should not receive this medication if you have a chronic kidney condition such as Bright's disease.
Before receiving vasopressin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have asthma, kidney disease, congestive heart failure, hardened arteries, migraine headaches, or seizures.
Some people receiving vasopressin have had an immediate reaction to the medication. Tell your caregiver right away if you feel weak, nauseated, light-headed, sweaty, or have a fast heartbeat, chest tightness, or weak breathing just after receiving vasopressin.
Vasopressin can cause temporary side effects such as nausea, stomach pain, or "blanching" of your skin (such as pale spots when you press on the skin). Drinking 1 or 2 glasses of water each time you receive an injection may help ease these side effects.
Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink during your treatment with vasopressin. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before receiving vasopressin?
You should not receive this medication if you have a chronic kidney condition such as Bright's disease.
Before receiving vasopressin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
asthma;
kidney disease;
congestive heart failure;
coronary artery disease, hardening of the arteries;
circulation problems;
migraine headaches; or
epilepsy or other seizure disorder.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to receive vasopressin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Vasopressin may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How is vasopressin given?
Vasopressin is given as an injection under the skin or into a muscle. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. Vasopressin is usually given as needed every 3 to 4 hours. The time interval between doses will depend on how your body responds to the medication.
To treat diabetes insipidus, vasopressin is sometimes given into the nose by nasal spray or medicine dropper, or insertion of a cotton pad that has been soaked in vasopressin.
When used for abdominal x-ray, vasopressin injections are usually given at 2 hours before and 30 minutes before your x-ray. Your doctor may also recommend you receive an enema before you receive your first dose of vasopressin.
Vasopressin can cause temporary side effects such as nausea, stomach pain, or "blanching" of your skin (such as pale spots when you press on the skin). Drinking 1 or 2 glasses of water each time you receive an injection may help ease these side effects.
Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink during your treatment with vasopressin. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. You heart function may also need to be tested.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since vasopressin is usually given as needed in a hospital setting, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.
Symptoms of a vasopressin overdose may include severe headache, drowsiness, weakness, pale skin, nausea, and stomach pain.
What should I avoid while receiving vasopressin?
Avoid drinking alcohol during your treatment with vasopressin. Alcohol can make vasopressin less effective.
Vasopressin side effects
Some people receiving vasopressin have had an immediate reaction to the medication. Tell your caregiver right away if you feel weak, nauseated, light-headed, sweaty, or have a fast heartbeat, chest tightness, or weak breathing just after receiving vasopressin. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Tell your caregivers at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
slow or uneven heart rate;
gasping or trouble breathing;
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
tingling or loss of feeling in your hands or feet;
skin changes or discoloration;
swelling, rapid weight gain;
feeling light-headed, fainting; or
severe nausea or stomach pain.
Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:
mild stomach pain, bloating, or gas;
dizziness; or
throbbing headache.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Vasopressin Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Asystole:
40 units intravenously once, followed by 20 mL of normal saline. If spontaneous circulation is not restored within 3 minutes, another 40 units may be given intravenously. If spontaneous circulation is still not restored, 1 mg of epinephrine maybe given intravenously. All doses should be followed with 20 mL of normal saline.
The use of vasopressin to treat asystole is not approved by the FDA.
Usual Adult Dose for Ventricular Fibrillation:
40 units intravenously once, followed by 20 mL of normal saline. If spontaneous circulation is not restored within 3 minutes, another 40 units may be given intravenously. If spontaneous circulation is still not restored, 1 mg of epinephrine maybe given intravenously. All doses should be followed with 20 mL of normal saline.
The use of vasopressin to treat asystole is not approved by the FDA.
Usual Adult Dose for Ventricular Tachycardia:
40 units intravenously once, followed by 20 mL of normal saline. If spontaneous circulation is not restored within 3 minutes, another 40 units may be given intravenously. If spontaneous circulation is still not restored, 1 mg of epinephrine maybe given intravenously. All doses should be followed with 20 mL of normal saline.
The use of vasopressin to treat asystole is not approved by the FDA.
Usual Adult Dose for Diabetes Insipidus:
5 units to 10 units intramuscularly or subcutaneously 2 to 4 times a day.
Continuous IV infusion: 0.0005 units/kg/hour; double dosage as needed every 30 minutes to a maximum of 0.01 units/kg/hour.
Vasopressin can also be administered intranasally on cotton pledgets, by nasal spray, or by dropper. When vasopressin is administered intranasally by spray or on pledgets, the dosage must be individually titrated for each patient.
Usual Adult Dose for Postoperative Gas Pains:
5 units intramuscularly once.
This dose may be doubled and repeated at three to four hour intervals as needed to prevent or relieve postoperative abdominal distention.
These recommendations apply also to distention complicating pneumonia or other acute toxemias.
Usual Adult Dose for Abdominal Distension Prior to Abdominal X-ray:
10 units intramuscularly once 2 hours prior to X-ray and once again 30 minutes prior to X-ray.
Usual Adult Dose for Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage:
0.2 to 0.4 units/min by continuous intravenous infusion. Then titrate dose as needed (maximum dose: 0.8 units/minute); if bleeding stops, continue at same dose for 12 hours, then taper off over 24 to 48 hours.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Diabetes Insipidus:
2.5 units to 10 units intramuscularly once.
This dose may be repeated 2 to 3 times a day as needed.
Alternatively, a vasopressin infusion at 0.0005 units/kg/hour may be administered and titrated to restrict urine output and maintain a more concentrated urine.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Esophageal Varices with Bleeding:
Continuous IV infusion:
Initial: 0.002-0.005 units/kg/minute; titrate dose as needed; maximum dose: 0.01 units/kg/minute.
Alternative: Initial: 0.1 units/minute; increase by 0.05 units/minute to a maximum of:
less than 5 years: 0.2 units/minute
5 to 12 years: 0.3 units/minute
over 12 years: 0.4 units/minute
If bleeding stops for 12 hours, then taper off over 24 to 48 hours.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Asystole:
Limited data available: 0.4 units/kg IV after traditional resuscitation methods and at least two doses of epinephrine have been administered; Note: Due to insufficient evidence, no formal recommendations for or against the routine use of vasopressin during pediatric cardiac arrest are provided.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Ventricular Fibrillation:
Limited data available: 0.4 units/kg IV after traditional resuscitation methods and at least two doses of epinephrine have been administered; Note: Due to insufficient evidence, no formal recommendations for or against the routine use of vasopressin during pediatric cardiac arrest are provided.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Ventricular Tachycardia:
Limited data available: 0.4 units/kg IV after traditional resuscitation methods and at least two doses of epinephrine have been administered; Note: Due to insufficient evidence, no formal recommendations for or against the routine use of vasopressin during pediatric cardiac arrest are provided.
What other drugs will affect vasopressin?
Before receiving vasopressin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);
chlorpropamide (Diabinese);
clofibrate (Atromid-S);
fludrocortisone (Florinef Acetate);
demeclocycline (Declomycin);
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
heparin (HepLock);
a muscle relaxer; or
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to receive vasopressin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect vasopressin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
More vasopressin resources
- Vasopressin Side Effects (in more detail)
- Vasopressin Dosage
- Vasopressin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Vasopressin Drug Interactions
- Vasopressin Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Vasopressin - Add your own review/rating
- vasopressin Injection Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Vasopressin Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Vasopressin Monograph (AHFS DI)
Compare vasopressin with other medications
- Abdominal Distension Prior to Abdominal X-ray
- Asystole
- Diabetes Insipidus
- Esophageal Varices with Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
- Postoperative Gas Pains
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
Where can I get more information?
- Your doctor or pharmacist has information about vasopressin written for health professionals that you may read.
See also: vasopressin side effects (in more detail)
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