An overdose of DesmoMelt leads to a prolonged duration of action with an increased risk of water retention and/or hyponatraemia.
Treatment:
Although the treatment of hyponatraemia should be individualised, the following general recommendations can be given. Hyponatraemia is treated by discontinuing the desmopressin treatment, fluid restriction and symptomatic treatment if needed.
48 months
DesmoMelt is contraindicated in cases of cardiac insufficiency and other conditions requiring treatment with diuretic agents. DesmoMelt should only be used in patients with normal blood pressure.
Before prescribing DesmoMelt, the diagnoses of psychogenic polydipsia and alcohol abuse should be excluded.
Desmopressin should not be prescribed to patients over the age of 65 for the treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis.
Not applicable
Gelatin
Mannitol
Citric acid, anhydrous
Oral lyophilisate
DesmoMelt 120 micrograms oral lyophilisate
White, round, oral lyophilisate marked with two drop shaped figures on one side.
DesmoMelt* 240 micrograms oral lyophilisate
White, round, oral lyophilisate marked with three drop shaped figures on one side.
Side-effects include headache, stomach pain and nausea. Isolated cases of allergic skin reactions and more severe general allergic reactions have been reported. Very rare cases of emotional disorders including aggression in children have been reported. Treatment with desmopressin without concomitant reduction of fluid intake may lead to water retention/hyponatraemia with accompanying symptoms of headache, nausea, vomiting, weight gain, decreased serum sodium and in serious cases, convulsions.
There are no pre-clinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of the SPC.
DesmoMelt is indicated for the treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis.
Pharmacotherapeutic group: vasopressin and analogues
ATC code: H01B A02
In its main biological effects, desmopressin does not differ qualitatively from vasopressin. However, desmopressin is characterised by a high antidiuretic activity whereas the uterotonic and vasopressor actions are extremely low.
The overall mean systemic bioavailability of desmopressin administered sublingually as Melts at doses of 200, 400 and 800 micrograms is 0.25% with a 95% confidence interval of 0.21% - 0.31%. The Cmax was 14, 30 and 65pg/ml after administration of 200, 400 and 800 micrograms respectively. tmax was observed at 0.5 - 2.0 hours after dosing. The geometric mean terminal half-life is 2.8 (CV= 24%) hours.
Correlation table between desmopressin in Tablet and Melt forms:
| Tablet | Tablet | Melt | Melt |
| Desmopressin acetate | Desmopressin free base | Desmopressin free base | Desmopressin acetate |
| 0.1mg | 89 micrograms | 60 micrograms | Approx. 67 micrograms * |
| 0.2mg | 178 micrograms | 120 micrograms | Approx. 135 micrograms * |
| 0.4mg | 356 micrograms | 240 micrograms | Approx. 270 micrograms * |
*calculated for comparative purposes
The distribution volume of desmopressin after intravenous administration is 33 L (0.41 L/kg). Desmopressin does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Desmopressin exhibits a moderate to high variability in bioavailability, both within and between subjects. Concomitant use of food decreases the rate and extent of absorption by 40%.
In vitro, in human liver microsome preparations, it has been shown that no significant amount of desmopressin is metabolised in the liver and thus human liver metabolism in vivo is not likely to occur.
It is unlikely that desmopressin will interact with drugs affecting hepatic metabolism, since desmopressin has been shown not to undergo significant liver metabolism in in vitro studies with human microsomes. However, formal in vivo interaction studies have not been performed.
June 2011
DesmoMelt 120 micrograms oral lyophilisate
DesmoMelt 240 micrograms oral lyophilisate
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Drayton Hall
Church Road
West Drayton
UB7 7PS
United Kingdom
Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture and light
PVC/Polyamide/Aluminium/Polyamide/PVC blisters. Top foil consists of Paper/Polyester teraphthalate/Aluminium/heat seal lacquer. Strips of 10 oral lyophilisates in packs of 30 oral lyophilisates.
DesmoMelt 120 micrograms oral lyophilisate PL 03194/0094
DesmoMelt 240 micrograms oral lyophilisate PL 03194/0095
Each unit contains 120 or 240 micrograms desmopressin (as acetate).
For excipients, see 6.1
Care should be taken with patients who have reduced renal function and/or cardiovascular disease or cystic fibrosis. In chronic renal disease the antidiuretic effect of DesmoMelt would be less than normal.
When DesmoMelt is used for the treatment of enuresis, fluid intake must be limited from 1 hour before until 8 hours after administration.
Patients being treated for primary nocturnal enuresis should be warned to avoid ingesting water while swimming and to discontinue DesmoMelt during an episode of vomiting and/or diarrhoea until their fluid balance is once again normal.
Precautions to prevent fluid overload must be taken in:
- conditions characterised by fluid and/or electrolyte imbalance
- patients at risk for increased intracranial pressure
None
DesmoMelt is for sublingual use.
Children (from 5 years of age) and adults (up to 65 years of age) with normal urine concentrating ability who have primary nocturnal enuresis should take 120 micrograms at bedtime administered sublingually and only if needed should the dose be increased to 240 micrograms sublingually.
The need for continued treatment should be reassessed after 3 months by means of a period of at least 1 week without DesmoMelt.
None.
Administrative data19th January 2006
