Pitressin Injection
Generic name:vasopressin
Dosage form: injection
Drug class:Antidiuretic hormones
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 22, 2021.
Disclaimer: This drug has not been found by FDA to be safe and effective, and this labeling has not been approved by FDA. For further information about unapproved drugs, click here.
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The Pitressin brand name has been discontinued in the U.S. If generic versions of this product have been approved by the FDA, there may be generic equivalents available.
Pitressin Injection Description
Pitressin (Vasopressin Injection, USP) Synthetic is a sterile, aqueous solution of synthetic vasopressin (8-Arginine vasopressin) of the posterior pituitary gland. It is substantially free from the oxytocic principle and is standardized to contain 20 USP units/mL. The solution contains 0.5% Chlorobutanol (chloroform derivative) as a preservative. The acidity of the solution is adjusted with acetic acid.
Pitressin Injection - Clinical Pharmacology
The antidiuretic action of vasopressin is ascribed to increasing reabsorption of water by the renal tubules.
Vasopressin can cause contraction of smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract and of all parts of the vascular bed, especially the capillaries, small arterioles, and venules with less effect on the smooth musculature of the large veins. The direct effect on the contractile elements is neither antagonized by adrenergic blocking agents nor prevented by vascular denervation.
Following subcutaneous or intramuscular administration of vasopressin injection, the duration of antidiuretic activity is variable but effects are usually maintained for 2 to 8 hours.
The majority of a dose of vasopressin is metabolized and rapidly destroyed in the liver and kidneys. Vasopressin has a plasma half-life of about 10 to 20 minutes. Approximately 5% of a subcutaneous dose of vasopressin is excreted in urine unchanged after 4 hours.
CONTRAINDICATION
Anaphylaxis or hypersensitivity to the drug or its components.
