Desmopressin may ease nocturia

Nutrition Health Review, Summer, 2004

Nocturia, or excessive nighttime urination, can be an embarrassing and frustrating condition. According to a recent study published in Urology, Taiwanese researchers tested the drug desmopressin for possible therapeutic effects.

Thirty patients--25 men and five women--took part in the study. They were examined using urodynamic tests, urinalysis, a voiding diary, and 0.1 mg of desmopressin before bedtime. Success was defined as a 50 percent decrease in frequency and volume, from a mean of five episodes per night to two episodes per night.

The beneficial effects of desmopressin continued unchanged for four weeks after discontinuation in six patients. Symptoms increased slightly for six patients, and 13 patients returned to their baseline levels.