What is DDAVP and how does it work?
DDAVP, or desmopressin, is a synthetic anti-diuretic hormone. The natural anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) that the body produces has a direct relationship to the bladder capacity of the individual. It’s function is to reduce urine production during sleep to prevent the need for waking up. The theory is that when this ADH level is too low, “over-production” of urine during the night fills the bladder too full, and bedwetting results. The expectation is that DDAVP will substitute for the natural hormone and prevent the bladder from getting too full, thus enabling the enuretic to sleep through the night dry. Medical studies have indicated good initial success with this treatment, although long-term results have been somewhat disappointing in terms of relapse after the drug is withdrawn. Most of these studies support the use of an enuresis alarm first. For more severe cases, they suggest adding the use of DDAVP to the alarm program. We have case histories of children who were on DDAVP for one,
