Vaprisol
Generic name: conivaptan [ koe-NYE-vap-tan ]
Drug class: Vasopressin antagonists
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 21, 2024.
What is Vaprisol?
Vaprisol is a vasopressin antagonist that reduces the level of a hormone that regulates the balance of water and salt (sodium) in the body. High levels of this hormone can cause an imbalance that results in low sodium levels and fluid retention.
Vaprisol is used to treat hyponatremia (low sodium levels).
Vaprisol improves urine flow without causing the body to lose too much sodium as you urinate.
Warnings
You should not receive Vaprisol if you are allergic to corn products, or if you are unable to urinate.
Serious drug interactions can occur when certain medicines are used together. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using.
Before you receive Vaprisol, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure, liver disease, kidney disease, alcoholism, or if you are malnourished.
To be sure Vaprisol is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested often. Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as confusion, extreme thirst, muscle weakness or limp feeling, trouble speaking or swallowing, mood changes, or swelling or discomfort where the IV needle is placed. There are many other drugs that should not be used together with conivaptan, including certain antibiotics or antifungal medicines, heart or blood pressure medication, and HIV/AIDS medicine.
Before taking this medicine
You should not receive Vaprisol if you are allergic to corn products, or if you are unable to urinate.
Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with Vaprisol. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs:
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lomitapide;
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medicine to treat depression or mental illness - nefazodone, lurasidone, pimozide;
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an antibiotic - clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin;
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antifungal medicine - itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole;
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heart or blood pressure medicine - dronedarone, eplerenone, nimodipine, ranolazine;
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HIV/AIDS medicine - atazanavir, cobicistat, delavirdine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, ritonavir;
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medicine to treat hepatitis C - boceprevir, telaprevir; or
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prostate medicine - alfuzosin, silodosin.
To make sure Vaprisol is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
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congestive heart failure;
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liver disease;
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kidney disease;
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alcoholism;
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HIV or AIDS;
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malnourishment; or
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a condition for which you take digoxin (digitalis).
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Vaprisol may affect fertility (ability to have children) in women.
It is not known whether conivaptan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are receiving Vaprisol.
How is Vaprisol given?
Vaprisol is injected into a vein through an IV. You will receive this injection in a hospital setting.
Vaprisol is infused around-the-clock for 2 to 4 days. This medication is usually given only in a hospital.
You may have very low blood pressure while taking this medicine. Tell your caregivers if you feel weak, tired, dizzy, or very light-headed, or if you have any diarrhea or vomiting.
Because conivaptan can irritate the skin or vein when the medicine enters the body, your IV needle will be moved to a different vein every 24 hours.
To be sure this medicine is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested often.
Dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Hyponatremia:
Initial dose: Loading dose of 20 mg IV once over 30 minutes; followed by 20 mg continuous IV infusion over 24 hours
-Following initial day of treatment, administer 20 mg continuous IV infusion over 24 hours for an additional 1 to 3 days; may titrate to a maximum of 40 mg continuous IV infusion over 24 hours if serum sodium is not rising at the desired rate
Comments:
-The total duration of infusion (after the loading dose) should not exceed 4 days.
-Frequently monitor serum sodium and volume status during administration.
Use: To raise serum sodium in hospitalized patients with euvolemic or hypervolemic hyponatremia
Usual Adult Dose for Hyponatremia, euvolemic:
Initial dose: Loading dose of 20 mg IV once over 30 minutes; followed by 20 mg continuous IV infusion over 24 hours
-Following initial day of treatment, administer 20 mg continuous IV infusion over 24 hours for an additional 1 to 3 days; may titrate to a maximum of 40 mg continuous IV infusion over 24 hours if serum sodium is not rising at the desired rate
Comments:
-The total duration of infusion (after the loading dose) should not exceed 4 days.
-Frequently monitor serum sodium and volume status during administration.
Use: To raise serum sodium in hospitalized patients with euvolemic or hypervolemic hyponatremia
Related/similar drugs
tolvaptan, demeclocycline, Samsca, conivaptan
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since Vaprisol is given by a healthcare professional, you are not likely to miss a dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Since this medicine is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.
What should I avoid while receiving Vaprisol?
Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Vaprisol side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Vaprisol: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell your caregivers at once if you have:
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a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
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low potassium - confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling; or
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signs of a rapid increase in sodium levels - trouble speaking, trouble swallowing, weakness, mood changes, muscle spasm or weakness in your arms and legs, seizure.
Common Vaprisol side effects may include:
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fever;
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low potassium;
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headache, mild dizziness; or
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pain, redness, or swelling around the IV needle.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect Vaprisol?
Many drugs can interact with conivaptan, and some drugs should not be used together. You may need to wait at least 1 week after your last dose of Vaprisol before you can begin taking certain other medicines. Ask your doctor about your specific treatment plan.
Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Tell your doctor about all your medications and any you start or stop using during treatment with Vaprisol. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.
More about Vaprisol (conivaptan)
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Reviews (1)
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- FDA approval history
- Drug class: vasopressin antagonists
- En español
Professional resources
Related treatment guides
Further information
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Vaprisol only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
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