ARGIPRESSIN

What it is

Argipressin is a sterile, aqueous solution of synthetic argipressin (8-arginine argipressin). Argipressin is a polypeptide hormone having the properties of causing the contraction of vascular and other smooth muscles and of antidiuresis. Each 1 mL vial contains 20 pressor units of argipressin.

Approved indications

— Prevention and treatment of postoperative abdominal distention. — Abdominal radiography to dispel interfering gas shadows. — Diabetes insipidus.

Dosing overview

Intravenous use of argipressin is not recommended. Subcutaneous or intramuscular dosage should not exceed 0.75 mL. Dosage should be appropriately reduced in use in children. For postoperative abdominal distention, give 0.25 mL (5 units) by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection initially, increasing to 0.5 mL (10 units) at subsequent injections if necessary. Injections may be repeated at three or four hourly intervals as required. For abdominal radiography, two intramuscular or subcutaneous injections of 0.5 mL each (10 units) are suggested, given two hours and one half hour respectively before films are exposed. For diabetes insipidus, the dosage by injection is 0.25 to 0.5 mL (5 to 10 units) repeated two or three times daily as needed.

Key safety warnings

Argipressin should not be used in patients with vascular disease, especially disease of the coronary arteries, except with extreme caution. In such patients, even small doses may precipitate anginal pain and with larger doses, the possibility of myocardial infarction should be considered. Argipressin may produce water intoxication. The early signs of drowsiness, listlessness and headaches should be recognised to prevent terminal coma and convulsions. Argipressin should be used cautiously in the presence of epilepsy, migraine, asthma, toxaemia of pregnancy, nephritis with arterial hypertension, goitre with cardiac complications, coronary thrombosis, angina pectoris and arteriosclerosis or any state in which a rapid addition to extracellular water may produce hazard for an already overburdened system.

Contraindications

Argipressin is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to the drug or any of the excipients. Chronic nephritis with nitrogen retention contraindicates the use of argipressin until reasonable nitrogen blood levels have been attained.

Regulatory history

Argipressin was first listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods on 19 August 2025.