DDAVP
The technical name for DDAVP is a mouthful! The real name is Desmopressin but for obvious reasons it is known as DDAVP. It is a synthetic drug or hormone. DDAVP is also called Stimate and Minirin and sometimes called arginine vasopressin which can be very confusing.
Desmopressin can be taken either orally in tablet form or by nasal spray.
This is a useful medication to treat some of the side effects that diabetics experience like increased thirst and loss of water. Doctors prescribe this medication usually when the diabetic is experiencing excessive urination and to prevent the loss of water in the body.
It works by acting on the kidneys to decrease the frequent flow of urination. It also can be used for other purposes including bleeding related problems.
Usage of DDAVP
Use DDAVP to decrease urine frequency for diabetics. As it is also helpful for bleeding conditions it can be used to treat Von Willebrand disease, which is an inherited blood coagulation condition. DDAVP is not effective in curing diseases like hepatits B, and acute hepatitis though.
Desmopressin can also be prescribed for children who wet their beds or adults who suffer with bed wetting.
In order to treat any of these complaints you should consult your doctor who can best advise if the drug should be prescribed.
There are some precautions you need to exercise when taking DDAVP like drinking less.
Administering DDAVP
DDAVP needs to be taken as directed either orally or nasally. If it enters your body any other way than as intended it could harm you. It is recommended you take care when using DDAVP, as it can be harmful like many nasally induced drugs.
The dosage of DDAVP varies on how the patient responds to the drug. Your doctor may increase or reduce your dose of DDAVP after assessing the amount of sleep that can be obtained by the patient without urinating and how much urine the kidneys are producing.
Side effects of DDAVP
Some of the side effects that may arise from this medication include: depression, swollen eyes, dizziness, retention of the fluid, penis inflammation and vomiting. If you experience any side effects that cause you discomfort, no matter how minor, you should always consult your doctor. Read more about DDAVP.
