Noctiva/desmopressin Cost, Side effects, Dosage, Uses for Frequent Urination

Noctiva/desmopressin Cost, Side effects, Dosage, Uses for Frequent Urination. Noctiva is marketed by Milford, Pennsylvania-based Renaissance Lakewood, LLC for Serenity Pharmaceuticals, LLC.

US FDA approved a new medicine noctiva with active ingredient desmopressin acetate in nasal preparation for the treatment of frequent urination or overproduction of urine during sleep time (polyuria). This is first kind of drug approved by FDA to reduce symptoms of frequent urination at night time.

Urgency to urinate at night time is termed as nocturia while the underlying cause of nocturia is over production of urine at night time is termed polyuria. Polyuria is not the only cause of nocturia it might be due to number of reasons like congestive heart failure, daibetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, hyper active bladder, benign prostate hyperplasia, drug induced nocturia etc. So, it is the responsibility of health care provider to rule out the underlying causes of nocturia before prescribing this medicine because the drug is effective only in case of nocturia induced by nocturnal polyuria. 

Basic mechanism of action by which desmopressin reduces the urinary frequency is that it limits the amount of water in urine in renal collecting duct by binding with V2 receptors. According to pharmacokinetics, desmopressing has longer duration of action as compared to vasopression due to slow metabolic degradation. Moreover, it has better safety profile as compared to vasopressin.

Noctiva/desmopressin Side effects

According to data received from clinical trials side effects ranges from moderate to severe. Mild to moderate side effects include nasal irritation or nasal discomfort, sneezing, nasal congestion, dizziness, hypertension. While severe kind of side effects include hyponatremia, cardiovascular events and blood pressure problem.

Noctiva/desmopressin Uses

FDA approved Noctiva for the treatment of nocturia associated nocturnal polyuria in adults. Initially start with low dose to minimize the risk of hyponatremia ( low sodium level in serum). This drug is not recommended for the treatment of nocturia in pregnant women.

Noctiva/desmopressin Dosage

Prime with 5 actuation's before initial use or re-prime with 2 actuation's if not used for more than 3 days. Patients not at increased risk for hyponatremia: 1 spray of 1.66 mcg in either nostril nightly approximately 30 min before going to bed.