argipressin at a glance
Medicine class
Vasopressin analogue with antidiuretic and vasoconstrictor effects
Licensed uses
Non-nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and control of oesophageal variceal bleeding
Administration
Given by a healthcare professional by injection, with route depending on use
Important risk
Excess water retention and reduced tissue blood flow need prompt recognition
What is argipressin used for?
The selected product has two licensed indications. Critical-care use for vasodilatory or septic shock is non-licensed for this product.
Treatment of diabetes insipidus not caused by kidney resistance to vasopressin.
Control of bleeding from oesophageal varices.
Non-licensed context: use as a vasopressor in some cases of vasodilatory or septic shock.
How does argipressin work?
Argipressin increases water reabsorption by kidney tubules, reducing water lost in urine. It also contracts vascular smooth muscle, narrowing small blood vessels. This supports its role in controlling variceal bleeding and explains effects on blood pressure and tissue circulation.
argipressin preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 20 units/mL
How to take argipressin
Argipressin is prepared and administered by a healthcare professional. The route depends on why it is being used. It is supplied in a single-use ampoule, and any remainder must be discarded. Avoid alcohol before administration because it can reduce the antidiuretic effect.
Tell the clinical team about heart, circulation or kidney disease, high blood pressure, asthma, migraine or epilepsy.
Tell them about all medicines and recent alcohol use.
Report dizziness, chest pain, unusual drowsiness, headache, or painful, pale or cold skin promptly.
argipressin side effects
Common or expected effects
- Reported effects with unknown frequency include headache, dizziness, tremor and sweating.
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and wind may occur.
- Fluid retention, raised blood pressure, pallor, wheezing and hives have been reported.
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction or bronchospasm.
- Water intoxication, which may start with headache, drowsiness or listlessness and progress to seizures or coma.
- Angina, cardiac arrest or other serious chest pain.
- Peripheral ischaemia or gangrene, causing pain, pallor, altered sensation or darkened tissue.
argipressin in pregnancy
Pregnancy data are limited, and stimulation of uterine contractions has been reported in the third trimester. Use should generally be avoided where possible and considered only after a clinician weighs expected benefit against potential fetal and pregnancy risks.
argipressin while breastfeeding
Argipressin has been given during breastfeeding without apparent harm to infants, but evidence is limited. A prescriber should decide whether treatment is necessary after considering the clinical situation.
argipressin interactions
Several medicines can alter argipressin's water-retaining or blood-pressure effects. The clinical team should review all prescribed, over-the-counter and complementary products.
Carbamazepine or tricyclic antidepressants
May increase the antidiuretic effect and risk of excessive water retention.
Chlorpropamide, clofibrate, fludrocortisone or urea
May strengthen the antidiuretic action.
Lithium, demeclocycline, noradrenaline or heparin
May reduce the antidiuretic effect.
Common questions about argipressin
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is argipressin the same as vasopressin?
Argipressin is the pharmaceutical form of arginine vasopressin, the body's antidiuretic hormone.
Why is it not used for nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?
In nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, the kidneys do not respond properly to vasopressin. The selected product is licensed only when diabetes insipidus is not nephrogenic.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.