COMMON USES:
Used to reduce nighttime bedwetting.
Used to reduce excessive urination that can happen after head injury or brain surgery.
Used to treat some bleeding disorders.
HOW IT'S SUPPLIED:
0.1 and 0.2 milligram tablets
10 microgram per spray nasal spray.
HOW IT WORKS:
Desmopressin is a man-made version of the antidiuretic hormone that the brain usually produces to slow a child's production of urine.
It also raises the circulating levels of some blood clotting factors to shorten the prolonged bleeding time seen in hemophilia and von Willebrand's disease.
THINGS TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR:
* Should be used along with decreasing the amount of fluid the child receives.
* Spray can cause stuffy or runny nose.
* May also cause headaches, nausea, flushing, stomach cramps, low sodium levels in the blood, high blood pressure and/or seizures.
* If your child can?t swallow pills, tablets can be chewed, or crushed and mixed with applesauce.
* Taking Carbamazepine (Tegretol?) can decrease the amount of time Desmopressin is effective.
* Use with caution in young children.
* Prior to taking this medicine, your doctor should obtain blood electrolytes and serum osmolality (concentration) levels and follow these on a regular basis.
|
