Hyponatremia from 1-Deamino-8-d-Arginine (dDAVP) Abuse

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To the editor: The synthetic vasopressin analogue 1-deamino-8-D-arginine (dDAVP) has been recommended as the preferred form of treatment for neurogenic diabetes insipidus (1). It has the characteristics of increased antidiuretic activity and decreased pressor activity and results in good control of symptoms as compared to previously used preparations (2). Noteworthy side effects of dDAVP have been few. As stated in a recent review (3), water intoxication and hyponatremia have not been reported to occur in outpatients presumably because the state of hydration affects the metabolic clearance of dDAVP (4). We report here that dDAVP is subject to drug abuse and