Health Library Desmopressin Acetate for HemophiliaFrom Healthwise

Desmopressin can be used by people who have mild to moderate hemophilia to help increase clotting factors when they have certain medical or dental procedures done. Medical researchers believe that this drug acts by releasing unused clotting factor VIII from cells that line blood vessels.

Desmopressin is used before dental and minor surgical procedures for people who have mild to moderate hemophilia A. It is also used to treat mild bleeding episodes. Desmopressin acetate is not usually used in certain situations, such as for:

• Severe cases of hemophilia.
• Children younger than 1 year.
• Serious injuries.

In mild to moderate cases of hemophilia, desmopressin acetate can sometimes effectively control bleeding, because it increases the percentage of clotting factor VIII in the blood. But its effectiveness varies with each individual, and the medicine's effectiveness is not known until it is tested individually.

Possible side effects of desmopressin include:

• Fluid retention.
• Mild increase in pulse or blood pressure.
• Redness of the face and neck (flushing).
• Headache.
• Congestion.
• Fatigue.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

Desmopressin is used to treat hemophilia A. It is usually injected. Desmopressin does not carry infectious diseases, and it is safe for treatment of adults. But desmopressin may become ineffective if it is used too often.

Desmopressin is inexpensive compared to clotting factor replacement.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: August 20, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology
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