Desmopressin (DDAVP)





  • Trade name = DDAVP

  • Synthetic analogue of arginine vasopressin

PD

MOA

  • Induces release of von Willebrand's factor (vWF)
    ... from vascular endothelium
    • Increases vWF and factor VIII (by 2x to 4x)

SE

  • Headache
  • Facial flushing
  • Nausea
  • Hyponatraemia
  • Seizures

PK

Elimination T1/2 = 2.5 to 4.4 hours

Duration of action = 8 to 20 hours

  • Highly variable

Clinical

Use

  • Haemophilia A
  • von Willebrand's disease
  • ?To improve platelet function in
    • Renal failure (uraemia induced platelet dysfunction)
    • Aspirin-induced platelet dysfunction
  • Diabetes insipidus (DI)
    • Used as a diagnostic test
      • i.e. Differentiation between central and nephrogenic DI
    • Treatment of central DI

Dose

Dose = 0.3 mcg/kg

⦿ NB:

  • Infuse in 50 mL normal saline over 30 min