lithium vs vasopressin
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Side-by-side comparison of lithium and vasopressin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
7.5 Drugs Suspected of Causing Diabetes Insipidus Use with drugs suspected of causing diabetes insipidus (e.g., demeclocycline, lithium, foscarnet, clozapine) may decrease the pressor effect in addition to the antidiuretic effect of Vasopressin injection.
Lithobid, Eskalith
Vasostrict
Lithium is a mood stabilizer medicine. It helps to balance mood swings.
Vasopressin injection helps raise blood pressure in adults with shock. It is used when fluids and other medicines don't work well enough.
Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration. Lithium helps to control the extreme highs (mania) and lows (depression) of this condition.
Vasopressin injection is used to increase blood pressure. It is for adults who have vasodilatory shock. This is when blood vessels relax too much, causing low blood pressure. It is used when fluids and other medicines called catecholamines are not enough to raise blood pressure.
Lithium affects the flow of sodium in nerve and muscle cells in the body. This helps to stabilize your mood. It may also affect other chemical messenger systems in the brain.
Vasopressin is a hormone that makes blood vessels get tighter. This helps to increase blood pressure. It can also affect how your kidneys handle water.
- • Tremor (shaking)
- • Nausea
- • Increased weight
- • Fatigue (feeling tired)
- • Vomiting
- • Decreased heart output
- • Slow heart rate
- • Fast or irregular heart rate
- • Low sodium levels in the blood
- • Reduced blood flow to the heart
- Toxicity To Various Agents 2,179
- Drug Interaction 1,526
- Tremor 1,462
- Nausea 1,344
- Weight Increased 1,153
- Hypotension 486
- Cardiogenic Shock 389
- Sepsis 380
- Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome 375
- Condition Aggravated 359
Lithium levels in your blood need to be monitored closely by your doctor. Too much lithium can be toxic and cause serious side effects. Make sure to attend all scheduled blood tests.
Vasopressin can worsen heart function. It can also cause a type of diabetes where you pee a lot. Your doctor will check your electrolytes and urine after you stop taking it.
Lithium can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lithium can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking lithium.
Vasopressin may cause the uterus to contract, which could be a problem during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if vasopressin passes into breast milk.
How to Read This lithium vs vasopressin Comparison
lithium is classified in the Mood Stabilizer drug class, while vasopressin sits within the Vasopressin Receptor Agonist class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, lithium has 7,664 submissions while vasopressin has 1,989. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to lithium can block the effects of vasopressin, making it less able to raise blood pressure or manage water levels.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for lithium or vasopressin.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.