Vaprisol (conivaptan) 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). Conivaptan improves urine flow without causing the body to lose too much sodium as you urinate.
Vaprisol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information
You should not receive Vaprisol if you are allergic to corn products, if you are unable to urinate.
There are many other drugs that should not be used together with Vaprisol.. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during treatment with this medicine.
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 Vaprisol, including certain antibiotics or antifungal medicines, heart or blood pressure medication, and HIV/AIDS medicine.
Before receiving this medicine
You should not receive Vaprisol if you are allergic to conivaptan or corn products, or if you are unable to urinate.
Some medicines can interact with conivaptan and should not be used at the same time. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use other medicine, especially:
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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 you can safely receive Vaprisol, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
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congestive heart failure;
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liver or kidney disease;
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alcoholism;
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HIV or AIDS;
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if you are malnourished; or
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if you are taking medicines to lower your cholesterol.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Vaprisol will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.
See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)
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 this medicine.
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 up to 4 days. This medication is usually given only in a hospital.
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.
Vaprisol dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for SIADH:
For hospitalized patients:
loading dose: 20 mg in 100 mL of 5% dextrose intravenously over 30 minutes. The loading dose should be followed by 20 mg in 250 mL of 5% dextrose administered in a continuous intravenous infusion over 24 hours. Following the initial day of treatment, conivaptan is to be administered for an additional 1 to 3 days in a continuous infusion of 20 mg per day. If serum sodium is not rising at the desired rate, conivaptan may be titrated upward to a dose of 40 mg daily administered in a continuous intravenous infusion. The total duration of infusion of conivaptan (after the loading dose) should not exceed four days. .
Usual Adult Dose for Hyponatremia, euvolemic:
For hospitalized patients:
loading dose: 20 mg in 100 mL of 5% dextrose intravenously over 30 minutes. The loading dose should be followed by 20 mg in 250 mL of 5% dextrose administered in a continuous intravenous infusion over 24 hours. Following the initial day of treatment, conivaptan is to be administered for an additional 1 to 3 days in a continuous infusion of 20 mg per day. If serum sodium is not rising at the desired rate, conivaptan may be titrated upward to a dose of 40 mg daily administered in a continuous intravenous infusion. The total duration of infusion of conivaptan (after the loading dose) should not exceed four days.
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?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include some of the serious side effects listed in this medication guide.
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 any of these 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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mild fever;
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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.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Vaprisol?
Many drugs can interact with conivaptan. 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.
