Approved & therapeutic
Vasopressin
Vasostrict, ADH, Antidiuretic Hormone
Vasopressin is the human antidiuretic hormone, produced synthetically and approved to raise blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines. It is a critical-care drug.
Also known as: Vasostrict, antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasopressin
- Status
- Vasopressin is approved by the U.S. FDA and has official prescribing information.
- Evidence
- Approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people.
- Half-life
- Approximately 10 to 20 minutes, requiring continuous infusion.
- How it's taken
- Continuous intravenous infusion in an intensive care setting
- Mechanism
- Other
- Pathways
- Vasopressin
How Vasopressin works
Vasopressin acts at V1 receptors on vascular smooth muscle to cause vasoconstriction, and at V2 receptors in the renal collecting duct to promote water reabsorption. In vasodilatory shock, endogenous vasopressin becomes relatively deficient, and the V1 vasoconstrictor effect is preserved even in the acidotic conditions where catecholamine responsiveness fails — which is the rationale for adding it to norepinephrine.
What research has looked at
- Raises blood pressure in vasodilatory shock and allows the catecholamine dose to be reduced, which is a recognised catecholamine-sparing strategy.
- Its vasoconstrictor effect is relatively preserved in acidosis, where adrenergic agents lose potency.
- It acts through a receptor system entirely separate from the adrenergic receptors, so its effect is additive to norepinephrine rather than competing at the same target.
Evidence level: Approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people. These are areas studied or reported, not promised effects.
Reported side effects and risks
- Ischaemia is the dominant risk and follows directly from the mechanism: distal limb, skin, mesenteric and cardiac ischaemia have all been reported, and mesenteric ischaemia can be catastrophic.
- Decreased cardiac output, particularly at higher infusion rates.
- Hyponatremia and diabetes-insipidus-like rebound after abrupt discontinuation, reflecting the V2 component.
- It must be given by continuous infusion with invasive haemodynamic monitoring; it is not a drug with any outpatient or self-administered use.
- Extravasation can cause local tissue necrosis.
Sources
- FDA approved-drug listing for vasopressin · U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- DailyMed prescribing information for vasopressin · NIH · DailyMed
- PubMed research on vasopressin vasodilatory shock VASST · NIH · National Library of Medicine
- DrugBank record for vasopressin · DrugBank
Track Vasopressin in Peptide Vault
Log every dose, set reminders on your own schedule, rotate injection sites and keep your vials organized. Peptide Vault records what you enter. It doesn't recommend compounds or doses. iPhone, on-device.
Related compounds
Vasopressin FAQ
What is Vasopressin?
Vasopressin is the human antidiuretic hormone, produced synthetically and approved to raise blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines. It is a critical-care drug.
How does Vasopressin work?
Vasopressin acts at V1 receptors on vascular smooth muscle to cause vasoconstriction, and at V2 receptors in the renal collecting duct to promote water reabsorption. In vasodilatory shock, endogenous vasopressin becomes relatively deficient, and the V1 vasoconstrictor effect is preserved even in the acidotic conditions where catecholamine responsiveness fails — which is the rationale for adding it to norepinephrine.
Is Vasopressin FDA approved?
Yes. Vasopressin is approved by the U.S. FDA and has official prescribing information. Evidence level: approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people.
What is the half-life of Vasopressin?
Reported half-life: Approximately 10 to 20 minutes, requiring continuous infusion.
How is Vasopressin taken?
Continuous intravenous infusion in an intensive care setting.
What side effects have been reported with Vasopressin?
Reported in the sources: Ischaemia is the dominant risk and follows directly from the mechanism: distal limb, skin, mesenteric and cardiac ischaemia have all been reported, and mesenteric ischaemia can be catastrophic; Decreased cardiac output, particularly at higher infusion rates; Hyponatremia and diabetes-insipidus-like rebound after abrupt discontinuation, reflecting the V2 component; It must be given by continuous infusion with invasive haemodynamic monitoring; it is not a drug with any outpatient or self-administered use; Extravasation can cause local tissue necrosis.
Educational summary compiled from the sources listed above. Not medical advice. Peptide Vault does not sell, source or recommend any compound. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting or changing anything.