Diabetes Insipidus: Drug Therapy

Therapeutic target

Improvement of symptomatology

Therapy recommendations

Therapy recommendations below depending on the diagnosis:

• Central diabetes insipidus (= deficiency of antidiuretic hormone, ADH), treatment with ADH (vasopressin): desmopressinNote: To notice water retention quickly, the patient should weigh himself daily at the beginning of therapy.
• Nephrogenic/renal diabetes insipidus (= lack of or inadequate renal response to ADH):
  • Treatment of underlying renal disease.
  • Restriction of salt and protein intake.
  • Thiazide diuretics (drugs used for dehydration) may relieve clinical symptoms.
  • If necessary, also additional use of NSAID (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) to inhibit renal prostaglandin synthesis (→ improvement of the concentration capacity of the kidneys).