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Vasopressin

    DEA Class; Rx

    Common Brand Names; Vasostrict, ADH

    • Gastrointestinal Agents, Other; 
    • Vasopressin-Related; 
    • Antidiuretics, Hormone Analog

    Parenteral exogenous antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
    Used for increasing blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines and for prevention and treatment of postoperative abdominal distention in abdominal roentgenography
    Has catecholamine-sparing effect

    Indicated for the treatment of central diabetes insipidus.

    For the treatment of hypotension in patients with vasodilatory shock (i.e., post-cardiotomy shock, septic shock) or hemorrhagic shock due to trauma who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines.
    For postoperative abdominal distention (e.g., ileus).
    For use in gastrointestinal radiography.
    For the treatment of variceal bleeding or nonvariceal upper GI bleeding.
    For the treatment of cardiac arrest including ventricular asystole and pulseless electrical activity (PEA) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

    Hypersensitivity; multiple dose vial (10 mL) is contraindicated in patients with known allergy or hypersensitivity to 8-L-arginine vasopressin or chlorobutanol; the 1 mL single dose vial does not contain chlorobutanol; contraindicated only in patients with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to 8-L-arginine vasopressin

    Abdominal cramps

    Allergic reaction

    Angina

    Bronchial constriction

    Circumoral pallor

    Diarrhea

    Nausea

    Pounding in the head

    Sweating

    Tremor

    Uterine contraction

    Vertigo

    Reversible diabetes insipidus

    With gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, infusion should be continued for 12-24 hours after bleeding has stopped, and dosage should then be tapered over 24-48 hours

    Continuous infusion should be administered via controlled infusion device

    Use caution in chronic nephritis with nitrogen retention

    Patients may experience reversible diabetes insipidus, manifested by development of polyuria, a dilute urine, and hypernatremia, after cessation of treatment with vasopressin; monitor serum electrolytes, fluid status and urine output after vasopressin discontinuation; some patients may require readministration of vasopressin or administration of desmopressin to correct fluid and electrolyte shifts

    Pre- and postoperative patients with polyuria may occur

    Use caution in patients with seizure, migraine, asthma, heart failure, vascular disease, angina pectoris, coronary thrombosis, renal disease

    Use in pregnant women only when clearly needed

    A decrease in cardiac index may be observed with the use of vasopressin

    There are no available data on use in pregnant women to inform a drug associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes; animal reproduction studies not conducted

    There are no data on presence of vasopressin injection in either human or animal milk, effects on breastfed infant, or on milk production

    Dependent on the route of administration and indication for therapy.

    Vasopressin

    injection solution for dilution

    • 20 units/mL (3-mL single-dose vial; 10-mL multidose vial); further dilution required /100mL

    injection solution, ready-to-use

    • 20 units/100mL (0.2 units/mL)
    • 40 units/100mL (0.4 units/mL)
    • 60 units/100mL (0.6 units/mL)