DDAVP in the treatment of acute neurosurgical diabetes insipidus

: The effects of a synthetic vasopressin analogue, DDAVP (1-deamino-8-d- arginine-vasopressin) were studied in 5 adults and 2 children with acute central diabetes insipidus secondary to neurosurgery. 5 mcg DDAVP was administered intranasally twice a day to the two children, whereas the adults received the drug i.m. (1 mcg twice a day, 3 patients; 1 mcg once a day, 1 patient; 4 mcg twice a day, 1 patient). All subjects displayed an early, prolonged response (12-24 hr). There were no side-effects. The effectiveness of DDAVP, its prolonged action, and virtual freedom from side-effects when given intranasally or parenterally make it the drug of choice in the treatment of acute neurosurgical diabetes insipidus.