Claimed effect · Vasopressin

Does Vasopressin help with raising blood pressure in vasodilatory shock?

A
Grade A — established in humansApproval programme; label · effect size: moderate
Short answerEstablished in humans. Approval programme; label point the same way: a moderate effect. The licensed indication. Vasopressin raises mean arterial pressure through V1 receptors on vascular smooth muscle by a pathway independent of the adrenergic receptors, which is why it works when catecholamines are failing and why it lets their dose come down.

What the studies show

The licensed indication. Vasopressin raises mean arterial pressure through V1 receptors on vascular smooth muscle by a pathway independent of the adrenergic receptors, which is why it works when catecholamines are failing and why it lets their dose come down.

Several well-run randomised trials in people, pointing the same way. You can plan around this. It still says nothing about whether the effect is worth the side effects for you.

  1. 1
    Vasostrict (vasopressin injection) prescribing information.DailyMed, read 29 Oct 2026Intravenous infusion; apparent half-life under 10 minutes; indication in vasodilatory shock; chemical structure.

In context

Vasopressin is the nine-amino-acid pituitary hormone that constricts blood vessels and concentrates urine, used in intensive care as a second vasopressor in septic shock. In VASST, the 778-patient randomised trial that defined its role, adding vasopressin to noradrenaline did not reduce 28-day or 90-day mortality. It is approved in the US as Vasostrict for raising blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock, given by intravenous infusion, and is hospital-use only.

Vasopressin is approved (rx). Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.

Questions

Is Vasopressin proven to help with raising blood pressure in vasodilatory shock?
Yes, as far as human trials can show it: Approval programme; label. LYO grades this outcome A.
What studies are behind the grade?
The licensed indication. Vasopressin raises mean arterial pressure through V1 receptors on vascular smooth muscle by a pathway independent of the adrenergic receptors, which is why it works when catecholamines are failing and why it lets their dose come down.
Is Vasopressin approved for this?
Vasopressin is an approved medicine (Approved (Rx)); whether this particular outcome is a licensed indication is stated on the compound page's regulation section.

Other outcomes for Vasopressin

Written and maintained by LYO Research — how pages are written and checked. Reviewed 29 October 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →