Desmopressin and nocturnal voiding dysfunction: Clinical evidence and safety profile in the treatment of nocturia.

Nocturia is a common urinary condition experienced by both men and women. While desmopressin has historically been utilized to treat conditions such as central diabetes insipidus and primary nocturnal enuresis, there is an increased interest in the use of desmopressin in the management of adult nocturia. Areas covered: This article provides a review on the pathophysiology of nocturia and the clinical outcomes and safety profile of desmopressin in the management of adult nocturnal voiding dysfunction. Expert opinion: To date, desmopressin is the only anti-diuretic hormone that is approved for nocturia. Published literature on desmopressin demonstrate good clinical efficacy in terms of number of nocturnal voids, voided volume and sleep period. Newer formulations have shown that a minimum dosage of 25 μg orally disintegrating sublingual desmopressin appears to be ideal for women, whereas men usually benefit from a minimum of 50 μg. Of the known adverse drug reactions, hyponatremia remains a major concern especially in patients over 65 years of age. At present, long term data on desmopressin remains scarce. Lastly, it is important to stress that no single treatment deals with nocturia in all contexts, and careful assessment remains essential to identify the appropriate and safest treatment in each patient.