Prescription Required
Description
DDAVP (which stands for 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin) Melt is an oral strip made up of antidiuretic hormone called desmopressin. This strip is meant to dissolve under your tongue and can be purchased as the brand choice DDAVP Melt in 120mcg and 240mcg.
DDAVP Melt (Desmopressin) is a man made form of vasopressin (a natural hormone found in the pituitary gland) which has an effect on various body functions such as affecting blood pressure, kidney function, and regulating how the body uses water. When the body doesn’t have enough vasopressin, your kidneys may excrete an extra amount of water; this will cause a high frequency in needing to urinate, dehydration, and can even cause low blood pressure.
In conditions like diabetes insipidus (“water diabetes”) and in certain cases of head injury or brain surgery, the body does not produce enough vasopressin. DDAVP Melt is prescribed to patients with those conditions to replace the loss vasopressin with desmopressin to control their possible excessive thirst and urination due to the condition. DDAVP Melt works to treat these conditions by increasing the water permeability (how easily liquid and gas passes through something) in the renal tubular cells, decreasing the urine volume and increasing the urine concentration. This also helps decrease the chance of dehydration. DDAVP Melt is also prescribed to those who cannot control their nighttime bedwetting.
DDAVP Melt comes in other forms such as DDAVP Nasal Spray and DDAVP (oral tablet).
Directions
Do not take more or less of a dose than directed to by your doctor. Always follow his or her directs carefully.
- Completely remove the end tab of a blister strip by tearing along the perforations, starting from the corner with the hand symbol.
- Now remove one blister from the strip by tearing along the perforations.
- Remove the foil on each blister, starting at the corner with the printed arrow, by peeling off the foil in the direction of the arrow.
- Carefully take a melt out of its blister. Place the melt under the tongue and allow it to dissolve.
- If a melt breaks into more than two pieces while you are taking it out of its blister, do not take the broken pieces. Take a melt from another blister.
Cautions
This medication may or may not harm an unborn child. Consult your doctor about the risk of DDAVP Melt while pregnant if this concerns you.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using DDAVP Melt.
Do not give this medication to a child unless told to do so by your doctor.
Some medical conditions, as well as medications to treat those conditions, shouldn’t be mixed with DDAVP Melt as they can cause unwanted adverse interactions and sometimes be fatal. Tell your doctor about all past medical conditions as well as all medications you are currently taking including prescription, over the counter, herbal supplements and vitamins, to determine if this medication is right for you. You may not be able to take DDAVP Melt if you have the following:
a history of hyponatremia (low sodium levels in your body); uncontrolled high blood pressure; congestive heart failure; moderate to severe kidney disease; SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion); or a fever, infection, vomiting, diarrhea or any other condition that can cause excessive thirst, dehydration, or an electrolyte imbalance.
You may need a dose adjustment if you use the following:
a "loop" diuretic (water pill)--bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, torsemide; or an oral, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine--budesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone, mometasone, prednisone, and many others.
You may need to take DDAVP Melt with extra caution if any of the following apply to you:
a psychologic disorder that causes extreme or unusual thirst; an infection or illness with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea; congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease; kidney disease or being unable to urinate; a head injury or brain tumor; cystic fibrosis; or diabetes.
Side Effects
Common side effects of DDAVP Melt may include:
headache, nausea, upset stomach or stomach pain, diarrhea, or. flushing of the face (warmth, redness, tingly feeling)
The above side effects should not alarm you.
Serious side effects of DDAVP Melt may include:
swelling, weight gain; a seizure; weak or shallow breathing; or a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out
If you have any of the above side effects, contact your doctor right away.
Signs to watch for:
Low sodium: headache, confusion, hallucinations, muscle cramps, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling restless or unsteady.
FAQs
What is DDAVP and how is it administered?
DDVAP (Melt) is a brand-name prescription medication; it comes in the form of a disintegrating tablet for oral administration. Each disintegrating tablet contains a fixed amount of 120 or 240 mcg of an antidiuretic hormone called desmopressin, a synthetic (man-made) form of vasopressin, which is a naturally produced hormone responsible for regulating how the body uses water (urine production). Desmopressin has a half-life of 1.5-2.5 hours and is obtainable only with a valid prescription.
How does desmopressin work?
When your vasopressin levels are too low, your kidneys may produce too much urine. When that occurs, you risk dehydration due to the amount of water your body is losing due to frequent urination (polyuria); this is commonly followed by extreme thirst (polydipsia). DDVAP Nasal Spray (desmopressin) works by directly supplying the body with a synthetic form vasopressin; this synthetic form can replicate the actions of the natural hormone, which helps regulate how your body uses water; your body will have more control over how much urine your kidneys produce, thus reducing frequent urination and any consequential symptoms.
What is DDAVP used to treat?
DDAVP (Melt) is used for certain conditions that affect the way your body uses water, often a result of low vasopressin levels. Diabetes insipidus and certain types of head injury or brain surgery can cause the body to produce an insufficient amount of vasopressin; this can cause increased thirst, urination, dehydration, and other unpleasant symptoms. Using desmopressin (DDAVP Melt) will help control/prevent these symptoms from occurring. Additionally, since desmopressin is an antidiuretic, it may also be used to reduce the frequency of bedwetting in children.
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