Desmopressin (desmopressin acetate)

Filled with a prescription and delivered free to your door, with help on prior authorization.

Desmopressin is a man-made version of vasopressin, the body's own hormone that helps the kidneys hold on to water. It also raises the blood level of factor VIII, a protein that helps blood clot.

MedRx Infusion can fill Desmopressin with a prescription and deliver it free to your door. This page also covers DDAVP (desmopressin acetate).

What Desmopressin is prescribed for

Central diabetes insipidus: adults and children 12 years and older with central (cranial) diabetes insipidus (the body does not make enough of the hormone that controls urine), and people with short-term heavy urination and thirst after a head injury or surgery near the pituitary gland; not for nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
Hemophilia A: adults and children 3 months and older with hemophilia A whose factor VIII activity is above 5% and who do not have factor VIII antibodies, to control bleeding during and after surgery and to reduce bleeding from injuries or bleeding that starts on its own.
Von Willebrand disease (type 1): adults and children 3 months and older with mild to moderate type 1 von Willebrand disease whose factor VIII level is above 5%, for surgery and bleeding episodes; not for severe type 1 disease.

A prescription is required. Your prescriber decides whether Desmopressin is right for you.

How Desmopressin is given

IV infusion, given by a healthcare professional. When your prescriber agrees it can be given at home, we send a skilled nurse from an accredited nursing agency to give it.

Injection under the skin, given by a healthcare professional. When your prescriber agrees it can be given at home, we send a skilled nurse from an accredited nursing agency to give it.

Before you start

Before the first dose, your prescriber may ask for:

a blood test to make sure your sodium (salt) level is normal
for diabetes insipidus, tests of how much urine you make and how concentrated it is
for hemophilia A, blood tests to confirm your factor VIII level is above 5% and that you do not have factor VIII antibodies, and a clotting test (aPTT)
for von Willebrand disease, blood tests to confirm your factor VIII level is above 5% and to rule out severe or unusual forms of the disease

Important safety information: This medicine has a boxed warning about hyponatremia (low sodium, or salt, in the blood), which can be severe and lead to seizures, coma, stopped breathing or death. It must not be used by people at higher risk of very low sodium, and your blood sodium must be normal before you start and be checked during treatment.

Read the Medication Guide and the full Desmopressin prescribing information, and ask your prescriber or our pharmacists about side effects. Our pharmacists are on call 24 hours a day.

Insurance and prior authorization

Health plans often require prior authorization for Desmopressin. Our intake team checks your coverage and works with your prescriber’s office on the paperwork before your first delivery.

How to refer a patient

Offices can call (844) 671-2600 or fax a referral to (844) 671-2601. Use the Hemophilia Referral Form (PDF).

Questions

01Does MedRx Infusion fill Desmopressin?

Yes. MedRx Infusion can fill Desmopressin with a prescription and deliver it free to your door. Our intake team confirms access and coverage for each patient.

02What is Desmopressin used for?

Desmopressin is approved for central diabetes insipidus, hemophilia A and von Willebrand disease (type 1). Your prescriber decides whether it is right for you.

03Can Desmopressin be given at home?

It can be, when your prescriber agrees. We send a skilled nurse from an accredited nursing agency to give Desmopressin at home.

04Does insurance cover Desmopressin?

Coverage depends on your health plan, and many plans require prior authorization. Our intake team checks your coverage before your first delivery.

See all the medications we fill.