Desmopressin nasal spray treats problems relating to your body making too much urine (central diabetes insipidus). The medication comes as a nasal spray that you squirt into your nose.
Desmopressin nasal spray is a synthetic vasopressin analog, which means it's a man-made form of a natural hormone in your body called vasopressin. It works in your kidneys to balance fluids in your body and stop you from making too much urine.
| Common Brands | Stimate |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Synthetic Vasopressin Analog |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Chills
confusion
difficulty swallowing
dizziness
drowsiness
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes
seizures
tightness in the chest
trouble breathing
unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
Blurred vision
body aches or pain
decreased urine output
ear congestion
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
headache
increased thirst
loss of consciousness
loss of voice
muscle pain or cramps
nervousness
nosebleed
pounding in the ears
runny or stuffy nose
slow or fast heartbeat
swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
vomiting
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Bloody nose
burning, dry, or itching eyes
eye discharge or excessive tearing
indigestion
loss of appetite
passing gas
redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
stomach pain, fullness, or discomfort
Incidence not known
Belching
feeling of warmth
redness of the face, neck, arms, and upper chest
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
stomach cramps
trouble sleeping
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Desmopressin nasal spray can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Desmopressin nasal spray can cause dangerously low sodium levels, which can lead to seizures, coma, respiratory arrest (can't breathe), or death. To lower your risk, your provider will likely have you limit the amount of fluids you drink and they will make sure your sodium levels are normal before you start desmopressin nasal spray. If you experience headache, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, weight gain, muscle weakness, cramps, or spasms, loss of appetite, or seizures, let your provider know right away.
You shouldn't use desmopressin nasal spray if you have scarring in your nose, nasal blockages, or have recently had nasal surgery. These things can affect how much desmopressin nasal spray is absorbed in your body and the medication might not work for you. This can also happen if you've been taking desmopressin nasal spray for a long period of time. If this applies to you, your provider may prescribe another form of desmopressin nasal spray, like the oral or injectable form.
Nasal spray| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5ml of 0.01% | 1 nasal spray | $35.88 | $35.88 |
Desmopressin nasal spray is also available as an injection in your veins and under your skin that is administered by a healthcare provider.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Desmopressin nasal spray will not be safe for you to take.
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Most people, especially children and older adults, need to limit the amount of water or fluids they drink while taking Stimate. If you drink too much water while taking Stimate, it can cause you to have too much fluid in your body because the medication stops you from urinating as much. This can cause discomfort, headaches, dizziness, and low levels of salt (sodium) in your body. Your provider will let you know if you need to limit the fluids you drink.
Vasopressin, also known as anti-diuretic hormone, is a natural hormone that controls the amount of water in our body. Stimate is the man-made version of vasopressin that works better to control urination and water balance in our bodies.
Sometimes, if you use Stimate for a long time, you might stop getting any benefit from it. If this happens, call your provider because they might need to raise your dose.
If you swallow Stimate, get medical help right away or call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Swallowing even just a small amount of nasal spray can be harmful and cause serious side effects.
DDAVP, Stimate, and Noctiva are brand-name versions of desmopressin nasal spray. Each medication is used to treat different conditions. DDAVP is used to treat central diabetes insipidus, Stimate treats blood clotting disorders called Von Willebrand disease and mild hemophilia A, and Noctiva treats frequent overnight urination (nocturia). DDAVP and Stimate were voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, in 2020 because they contained higher levels of desmopressin than specified, so they are not currently available. Noctiva was discontinued in the U.S. in 2019 because it wasn't used very much.
