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Nursing Drug Reference & Checker

FDA labels · Drug interactions · Beers Criteria · NIOSH 2024 · RxNorm · v3.0.0

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💊 VASOPRESSIN

INTRAVENOUS FDA Label
Quick reference
RouteINTRAVENOUS
ManufacturerFresenius Kabi USA, LLC
SourceFDA Label
✅ Indications & Usage ›

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Vasopressin injection is indicated to increase blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines. • Vasopressin injection is indicated to increase blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines. ( 1 )

💉 Dosage & Administration ›

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Dilute 20 units/mL single dose vial contents with normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride) or 5% dextrose in water (D5W) to either 0.1 units/mL or 1 unit/mL for intravenous administration. Discard unused diluted solution after 18 hours at room temperature or 24 hours under refrigeration. ( 2.1 ) • Post-cardiotomy shock: 0.03 to 0.1 units/minute ( 2.2 ) • Septic shock: 0.01 to 0.07 units/minute ( 2.2 )

2.1 Preparation of Solution Inspect parenteral drug products for particulate matter and discoloration prior to use, whenever solution and container permit. Vasopressin Injection Solution for Dilution, 20 units/mL Dilute Vasopressin injection in normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride) or 5% dextrose in water (D5W) prior to use for intravenous administration. Discard unused diluted solution after 18 hours at room temperature or 24 hours under refrigeration. Table 1 Preparation of diluted solutions Fluid restriction? Final concentration Mix Vasopressin injection Diluent No 0.1 units/mL 2.5 mL (50 units) 500 mL Yes 1 unit/mL 5 mL (100 units) 100 mL

2.2 Administration In general, titrate to the lowest dose compatible with a clinically acceptable response. The recommended starting dose is: Post-cardiotomy shock: 0.03 units/minute Septic Shock: 0.01 units/minute Titrate up by 0.005 units/minute at 10- to 15-minute intervals until the target blood pressure is reached. There are limited data for doses above 0.1 units/minute for postcardiotomy shock and 0.07 units/minute for septic shock. Adverse reactions are expected to increase with higher doses. After target blood pressure has been maintained for 8 hours without the use of catecholamines, taper vasopressin injection by 0.005 units/minute every hour as tolerated to maintain target blood pressure.

🚫 Contraindications ›

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Vasopressin injection 1 mL single dose vial does not contain chlorobutanol and is therefore contraindicated only in patients with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to 8-L-arginine vasopressin. • Vasopressin injection 1 mL single dose vial does not contain chlorobutanol and is therefore contraindicated only in patients with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to 8-L-arginine vasopressin. ( 4 )

⚠️ Warnings & Precautions ›

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • Can worsen cardiac function. ( 5.1 ) • Reversible diabetes insipidus ( 5.2 )

5.1 Worsening Cardiac Function A decrease in cardiac index may be observed with the use of vasopressin.

5.2 Reversible Diabetes Insipidus Patients may experience reversible diabetes insipidus, manifested by the development of polyuria, a dilute urine, and hypernatremia, after cessation of treatment with vasopressin. Monitor serum electrolytes, fluid status and urine output after vasopressin discontinuation. Some patients may require readministration of vasopressin or administration of desmopressin to correct fluid and electrolyte shifts.

🔴 Adverse Reactions ›

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions associated with the use of vasopressin were identified in the literature. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not possible to estimate their frequency reliably or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Bleeding/lymphatic system disorders: Hemorrhagic shock, decreased platelets, intractable bleeding Cardiac disorders: Right heart failure, atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, myocardial ischemia Gastrointestinal disorders: Mesenteric ischemia Hepatobiliary: Increased bilirubin levels Renal/urinary disorders: Acute renal insufficiency Vascular disorders: Distal limb ischemia Metabolic: Hyponatremia Skin: Ischemic lesions Postmarketing Experience Reversible diabetes insipidus [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )]. The most common adverse reactions include decreased cardiac output, bradycardia, tachyarrhythmias, hyponatremia and ischemia (coronary, mesenteric, skin, digital). ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC at 1-800-551-7176 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

💊 Drug Interactions ›

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Pressor effects of catecholamines and Vasopressin injection are expected to be additive. ( 7.1 ) • Indomethacin may prolong effects of Vasopressin injection. ( 7.2 ) • Co-administration of ganglionic blockers or drugs causing SIADH may increase the pressor response. ( 7.3 , 7.4 ) • Co-administration of drugs causing diabetes insipidus may decrease the pressor response. ( 7.5 )

7.1 Catecholamines Use with catecholamines is expected to result in an additive effect on mean arterial blood pressure and other hemodynamic parameters. Hemodynamic monitoring is recommended; adjust the dose of vasopressin as needed.

7.2 Indomethacin Use with indomethacin may prolong the effect of Vasopressin injection on cardiac index and systemic vascular resistance. Hemodynamic monitoring is recommended; adjust the dose of vasopressin as needed [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )].

7.3 Ganglionic Blocking Agents Use with ganglionic blocking agents may increase the effect of Vasopressin injection on mean arterial blood pressure. Hemodynamic monitoring is recommended; adjust the dose of vasopressin as needed [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )].

7.4 Drugs Suspected of Causing SIADH Use with drugs suspected of causing SIADH (e.g., SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, haloperidol, chlorpropamide, enalapril, methyldopa, pentamidine, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, felbamate) may increase the pressor effect in addition to the antidiuretic effect of Vasopressin injection. Hemodynamic monitoring is recommended; adjust the dose of vasopressin as needed.

7.5 Drugs Suspected of Causing Diabetes Insipidus Use with drugs suspected of causing diabetes insipidus (e.g., demeclocycline, lithium, foscarnet, clozapine) may decrease the pressor effect in addition to the antidiuretic effect of Vasopressin injection. Hemodynamic monitoring is recommended; adjust the dose of vasopressin as needed.

🤰 Pregnancy ›

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no available data on Vasopressin injection use in pregnant women to inform a drug associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted. Clinical Considerations Dose adjustments during pregnancy and the postpartum period: Because of increased clearance of vasopressin in the second and third trimester, the dose of Vasopressin injection may need to be increased [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 ) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Maternal adverse reactions: Vasopressin injection may produce tonic uterine contractions that could threaten the continuation of pregnancy.

👶 Pediatric Use ›

8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness of Vasopressin injection in pediatric patients with vasodilatory shock have not been established.

👴 Geriatric Use ›

8.5 Geriatric Use Clinical studies of vasopressin did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5 ), Adverse Reactions ( 6 ), and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] .

🔬 Mechanism of Action ›

12.1 Mechanism of Action Vasopressin causes vasoconstriction by binding to V 1 receptors on vascular smooth muscle coupled to the Gq/1 1-phospholipase C-phosphatidyl-inositol-triphosphate pathway, resulting in the release of intracellular calcium. In addition, vasopressin stimulates antidiuresis via stimulation of V 2 receptors which are coupled to adenyl cyclase.

📊 Pharmacokinetics ›

12.3 Pharmacokinetics Vasopressin plasma concentrations increase linearly with increasing infusion rates from 10 to 200 μU/kg/min. Steady state plasma concentrations are achieved after 30 minutes of continuous intravenous infusion. Distribution Vasopressin does not appear to bind plasma protein. The volume of distribution is 140 mL/kg. Elimination At infusion rates used in vasodilatory shock (0.01 to 0.1 units/minute), the clearance of vasopressin is 9 to 25 mL/min/kg in patients with vasodilatory shock. The apparent t 1/2 of vasopressin at these levels is ≤ 10 minutes. Metabolism Serine protease, carboxipeptidase and disulfide oxido-reductase cleave vasopressin at sites relevant for the pharmacological activity of the hormone. Thus, the generated metabolites are not expected to retain important pharmacological activity. Excretion Vasopressin is predominantly metabolized and only about 6% of the dose is excreted unchanged into urine. Specific Populations Pregnancy: Because of a spillover into blood of placental vasopressinase, the clearance of exogenous and endogenous vasopressin increases gradually over the course of a pregnancy. During the first trimester of pregnancy, the clearance is only slightly increased. However, by the third trimester the clearance of vasopressin is increased about 4-fold and at term up to 5-fold. After delivery, the clearance of vasopressin returns to preconception baseline within two weeks. Drug Interactions Indomethacin more than doubles the time to offset for vasopressin's effect on peripheral vascular resistance and cardiac output in healthy subjects [see Drug Interactions ( 7.2 )]. The ganglionic blocking agent tetra-ethylammonium increases the pressor effect of vasopressin by 20% in healthy subjects [see Drug Interactions ( 7.3 )]. Halothane, morphine, fentanyl, alfentanyl and sufentanyl do not impact exposure to endogenous vasopressin.

☠️ Overdosage ›

10 OVERDOSAGE Overdosage with Vasopressin injection can be expected to manifest as consequences of vasoconstriction of various vascular beds (peripheral, mesenteric, and coronary) and as hyponatremia. In addition, overdosage may lead less commonly to ventricular tachyarrhythmias (including Torsade de Pointes), rhabdomyolysis, and nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. Direct effects will resolve within minutes of withdrawal of treatment.

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