Desmopressin

FDA-approved selective V2 receptor agonistEstablished

Desmopressin is an FDA-approved selective V2 receptor agonist in the Vasopressin Receptor Agonist class. Two structural modifications to vasopressin — deamination at position 1 and substitution of D-arginine at position 8 — give desmopressin strong selectivity for the V2 receptor over V1a, so antidiuretic activity is retained while pressor activity is largely lost.

Calculate Dose

For research use only.

Key Facts

CAS: —
Molecular Weight (MW): 1069.2 g/mol
Half-life: —
FDA status: Approved
Evidence level: FDA Approved
Human dose established: Yes
Administration Route: Oral · Subcutaneous · Intravenous · Intranasal
Frequency: One to three times daily by indication; single infusion for bleeding
Last updated: Nov 7, 2026
Reviewed: Nov 7, 2026

Research summary

Synthetic vasopressin analog approved for central diabetes insipidus, primary nocturnal enuresis, nocturia, and for raising factor VIII and von Willebrand factor in mild haemophilia A and type 1 von Willebrand disease.

Research evidence

Regulatory review (FDA label)3 reviewed sources
Controlled human trialsNone in reviewed sources
Early or uncontrolled human studiesNone in reviewed sources
Lab & animal studiesNone in reviewed sources

How it works

Each step shows whether the sources Peptide Library has reviewed include that kind of research. Counts are reviewed sources, not every study ever published. Reviews and programme summaries that describe human use are shown as "reported", not as trials, and registered trials without published results are listed but not counted. A higher step means research has progressed further; it does not mean a compound works better or is safer. Compounds whose evidence has not been reviewed yet show "Not reviewed" instead of a guess.

Peptide Library's Desmopressin profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.

Desmopressin dosage evidence

Desmopressin has FDA-approved human dosages that differ by form and use. DDAVP tablets for central diabetes insipidus start at 0.05 mg twice daily, with most patients in the label's trials using 0.1–0.8 mg a day in divided doses; for bedwetting in children aged 6 and over they start at 0.2 mg at bedtime. DDAVP injection is 2–4 mcg a day for diabetes insipidus, and 0.3 mcg/kg intravenously (up to 20 mcg) in hemophilia A and type 1 von Willebrand disease.

FDA Approved

Dosage evidence summary for Desmopressin
Human dosing established	Yes
Route	Oral · Subcutaneous · Intravenous · Intranasal
Frequency	One to three times daily by indication; single infusion for bleeding
Duration studied	Continuous for diabetes insipidus; as needed for bleeding
Titration	Each dose is adjusted to urine output, sleep and serum sodium, under fluid restriction.
Evidence level	FDA Approved
Last reviewed	2026-11-07

Research-reported dosing

Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.

Research-reported dosing for Desmopressin, one row per studied regimen
Study / context	Population	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration	Outcome studied	Source
FDA label — DDAVP tablets, central diabetes insipidusFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information	Adults and children with central diabetes insipidus	Start 0.05 mg twice daily; 0.1–0.8 mg a day for most patients in trials, adjusted within 0.1–1.2 mg a day	Oral	Two or three divided doses daily	Continuous	Antidiuresis	DDAVP (desmopressin acetate) tablets — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed
FDA label — DDAVP tablets, primary nocturnal enuresisFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information	Children aged 6 and over with primary nocturnal enuresis	0.2 mg at bedtime, titrated up to 0.6 mg	Oral	Once nightly	Per label	Management of primary nocturnal enuresis	DDAVP (desmopressin acetate) tablets — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed
FDA label — DDAVP injectionFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information	Central diabetes insipidus; hemophilia A with factor VIII above 5%; type 1 von Willebrand disease	Diabetes insipidus: 2–4 mcg a day in one or two doses. Hemophilia A and von Willebrand disease: 0.3 mcg/kg, maximum 20 mcg	Subcutaneous or intravenous (diabetes insipidus); intravenous infusion (bleeding)	Daily (diabetes insipidus); per bleeding episode or procedure	—	Antidiuresis; maintained hemostasis	DDAVP (desmopressin acetate) injection — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed

Where sources disagree

Oral doses are in milligrams and injected doses in micrograms because very little of an oral dose is absorbed. Figures from one form do not transfer to another.
The DDAVP injection label carries a boxed warning that desmopressin can cause hyponatremia. The labels require fluid restriction and serum sodium checks during treatment.

Desmopressin dosage in published studies and labels →

Sequence & molecular data

Sequence and molecular data for Desmopressin
Molecular formula	C46H64N14O12S2
Molecular weight	1069.2 g/mol
PubChem CID	5311065
FDA UNII	ENR1LLB0FP
ChEMBL	CHEMBL1429
DrugBank	DB00035

Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.

Science

Mechanism of Action

Two structural modifications to vasopressin — deamination at position 1 and substitution of D-arginine at position 8 — give desmopressin strong selectivity for the V2 receptor over V1a, so antidiuretic activity is retained while pressor activity is largely lost. V2 stimulation promotes renal water reabsorption, and separately triggers release of von Willebrand factor and factor VIII from vascular endothelial storage sites.

Studies

Research statistics

3,764 PubMed publications · 60.2% human clinical research · 103 registered trials

Counts of published research through 2026-11-01, not evidence that it works. Publications by year, study types and trials · How publications are counted

Regulatory & research status

Desmopressin is an FDA-approved product for specific labelled indications. Approval does not extend to the research contexts described on this page, and approved products are prescription medicines.

Regulatory and research status for Desmopressin
FDA status	Approved
Research status	Approved product (see FDA status)
Availability	Prescription-Only
WADA (sport)	Unknown / Not Listed
Library classification	FDA-Approved

How FDA approval, compounding and research-only status differ

Benefits

—

Desmopressin side effects

No side effects listed yet for this entry.

Storage & stability

This compound is not supplied as a powder to be mixed, so the freeze-dried powder and reconstitution handling described for research peptides does not apply. Storage conditions are product-specific: follow the label or packaging of the product itself.

Desmopressin: frequently asked questions

What is Desmopressin?

How does Desmopressin work?

Is Desmopressin FDA approved?

Yes. Desmopressin is approved by the FDA, and approved products are prescription medicines. Approval is always for specific indications studied in clinical trials, so an approved status does not mean the compound is approved for every use it is discussed for. Research-chemical material sold under the same name is not the approved product.

What peptides are similar to Desmopressin?

Compounds most often compared with Desmopressin include Vasopressin, Terlipressin, Angiotensin II and Cetrorelix. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.

References

A systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the efficacy of Tuina for nocturnal enuresis in children — Front Pharmacol, 2024
External reference
Desmopressin as a hemostatic and blood sparing agent in bleeding disorders — Eur J Haematol, 2023
External reference
Effect of Desmopressin on Bleeding After Heart Surgeries: A Narrative Review — Anesth Pain Med, 2023
External reference
Desmopressin acetate the first sublingual tablet to treat nocturia due to nocturnal polyuria — Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol, 2021
External reference
Desmopressin (Nocdurna and Noctiva) for nocturnal polyuria — Med Lett Drugs Ther, 2019
External reference

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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Nov 7, 2026 · Version 2

This Desmopressin profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error

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