desmopressin (oral/sublingual)

What is the most important information I should know about desmopressin?

What is desmopressin?

Desmopressin is used to treat nighttime bed-wetting, central diabetes insipidus, and increased thirst and urination caused by head surgery or head trauma.

Desmopressin is a man-made form of a hormone that occurs naturally in the pituitary gland and regulates how the body uses water.

Desmopressin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking desmopressin?

• severe kidney disease; or
• hyponatremia (low sodium levels in your body).

• a disease or psychologic disorder that causes extreme or unusual thirst;
• syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH, high levels of a hormone that causes fluid retention);
• severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;
• heart failure; or
• if you take a diuretic ("water pill") or use a steroid medicine (oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable).

Do not give this medicine to a child for any reason without medical advice.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• an electrolyte imbalance;
• unusual thirst;
• fluid retention;
• congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease;
• high blood pressure;
• urination problems;
• kidney disease; or
• cystic fibrosis.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

How should I take desmopressin?

Your doctor may perform blood tests to make sure you do not have conditions that would prevent you from safely using desmopressin.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Fluid restriction is especially important in children and older adults using desmopressin. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink.

Take the sublingual tablet 1 hour before bedtime. Place the tablet under your tongue and allow it to dissolve. Empty your bladder before going to bed.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often and you may need frequent blood tests.

Store Nocdurna tablets in their original foil blister pack. Remove a tablet only when you are ready to take it.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Overdose symptoms may include headache, confusion, drowsiness, rapid weight gain, or urination problems.

What should I avoid while taking desmopressin?

While treating nighttime bed-wetting, avoid drinking anything within 1 hour before your bedtime dose of desmopressin. Do not drink anything until the next morning, or at least 8 hours after you have taken the medicine.

What are the possible side effects of desmopressin?

• low levels of sodium in the body --headache, confusion, hallucinations, muscle cramps, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling restless or unsteady;
• flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);
• swelling, weight gain;
• a seizure;
• weak or shallow breathing; or
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults.

Common side effects may include:

• headache;
• dizziness;
• dry mouth;
• nausea; or
• mild stomach pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect desmopressin?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect desmopressin, especially:

• an antidepressant;
• opioid pain medication;
• seizure medication;
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) --aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect desmopressin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about desmopressin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.01. Revision date: 1/24/2019.