desmopressin
Brand names: DDAVP
Desmopressin is a medicine that helps your body control how much urine it makes. It is a synthetic form of a natural hormone.
Drug Shortage Alert
desmopressin is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Ferring. Status: Unavailable.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$7.48/unit
Generic Price
$24.04/unit
Generic Available
Yes (16 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats central diabetes insipidus, a condition where your body doesn't make enough of a certain hormone, causing you to urinate too much.
Common side effects
Headache
Key warnings
This medicine can cause water intoxication and low sodium levels in your blood (hyponatremia).
How It Works
Desmopressin works by acting like a natural hormone in your body. This hormone helps your kidneys reduce the amount of urine you produce. This helps to decrease urination and thirst.
How to Take It
Take desmopressin exactly as your doctor tells you. For diabetes insipidus, you will usually start with 0.05 mg twice a day. Your doctor may adjust this dose between 0.1 mg and 1.2 mg per day, divided into two or three doses. For bedwetting, children 6 years and older usually start with 0.2 mg at bedtime, which may be increased to 0.6 mg.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if desmopressin can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store desmopressin tablets at room temperature between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,629 FDA adverse event reports.
Serious Warnings
This medicine can cause water intoxication and low sodium levels in your blood (hyponatremia). To prevent this, follow your doctor's instructions about limiting fluid intake. Be especially careful to limit fluids from 1 hour before taking desmopressin until at least 8 hours after.
Known Drug Interactions
tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, chlorpromazine, opiate analgesics, NSAIDs, lamotrigine and carbamazepine) should be performed with caution.
Mechanism: Taking lamotrigine with desmopressin can increase the risk of your body holding onto too much water and lowering your salt levels.
What to do: Your doctor should carefully monitor your blood work and symptoms while you are on both medications.
tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, chlorpromazine, opiate analgesics, NSAIDs, lamotrigine and carbamazepine) should be performed with caution.
Mechanism: Carbamazepine can increase the effects of desmopressin, which may cause your body to hold onto too much water. This can lead to a dangerous drop in the salt levels in your blood.
What to do: Use this combination with caution. Your doctor should monitor your blood salt levels regularly to ensure they stay in a safe range.
tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, chlorpromazine, opiate analgesics, NSAIDs, lamotrigine and carbamazepine) should be performed with caution.
Mechanism: Chlorpromazine can make desmopressin more powerful, making it harder for your body to release water. This increases the risk of developing low sodium levels in your bloodstream.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely if you take these drugs together. Watch for signs of low sodium like headaches, confusion, or nausea.
Common Questions
Can I drink a lot of water while taking this medicine?
What should I do if I get a headache?
Can I take this medicine if I have kidney problems?
How long will it take for this medicine to work?
Can I take this with other medicines?
What are the signs of water intoxication?
Can older adults take this medicine?
How will I know if the medicine is working?
Is desmopressin a cure for bedwetting?
What do the tablet markings mean?
What are the common side effects of desmopressin?
Does desmopressin interact with other medications?
What drug class is desmopressin?
Is desmopressin safe during pregnancy?
Is desmopressin currently in shortage?
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What the FDA Data Shows for desmopressin
The FDA label for desmopressin (sold under brand names such as DDAVP) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Vasopressin Analog class. This medicine treats central diabetes insipidus, a condition where your body doesn't make enough of a certain hormone, causing you to urinate too much. Official labeling lists 1 commonly reported side effect, including Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 1,629 voluntary reports. The database also lists 3 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $24.04 versus $7.48 for the brand.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: November 13, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages