Adverse effect · Vasopressin

How common is water retention and low sodium with Vasopressin?

A
Grade A — established in humansLabel; the desmopressin literature · effect size: moderate · adverse
Short answerEstablished in humans. Label; the desmopressin literature point the same way: a moderate effect. V2 receptor activation in the kidney is the antidiuretic effect, and its consequence is dilutional hyponatraemia — the harm that defines the whole vasopressin family, and the reason its analogue desmopressin carries a sodium warning in older patients.

What the studies show

V2 receptor activation in the kidney is the antidiuretic effect, and its consequence is dilutional hyponatraemia — the harm that defines the whole vasopressin family, and the reason its analogue desmopressin carries a sodium warning in older patients.

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 cause water retention and low sodium?
Yes, as far as human trials can show it: Label; the desmopressin literature. LYO grades this outcome A.
What studies are behind the grade?
V2 receptor activation in the kidney is the antidiuretic effect, and its consequence is dilutional hyponatraemia — the harm that defines the whole vasopressin family, and the reason its analogue desmopressin carries a sodium warning in older patients.
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 →