Nocdurna (Desmopressin Acetate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Nocdurna Used For?
Nocdurna contains desmopressin, a synthetic version of vasopressin, a natural hormone produced in the brain that helps control urine production.
Primary Uses
Nocdurna is used to treat adults who need to get up to urinate at night (nocturia) at least two or more times, even after making lifestyle changes like limiting fluids before bedtime and avoiding alcohol and caffeine.
How It Works
Like natural vasopressin, Nocdurna works in the kidneys as an antidiuretic, reducing the amount of urine produced during the night.
Good to know: Your doctor may ask you to complete a bladder diary to measure your fluid intake and urine output over 24 hours to determine if your nocturia is caused by nighttime overproduction of urine.
How to Take Nocdurna
Nocdurna comes as a sublingual wafer that dissolves under your tongue without needing water. It’s important to follow the specific timing and fluid restrictions.
Dosage Instructions
Women: 25 micrograms daily, one hour before bedtime. Men: 50 micrograms daily, one hour before bedtime. Remove the foil carefully, place the tablet under your tongue and let it dissolve completely. Don’t chew or swallow it. You must limit fluid intake to a minimum from 1 hour before taking Nocdurna until 8 hours after taking it – drink only a few sips if absolutely necessary during this time.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss your dose at the usual time, skip the missed dose and take the next dose when you’re supposed to. Don’t take a double dose to make up for the missed one. Continue taking your tablets as usual the next day.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. If a tablet breaks into more than two pieces while removing it from the blister, don’t take the broken pieces – use a tablet from another blister instead.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Dry mouth (very common)
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Weakness or fatigue
- Generally feeling unwell
- Stomach discomfort
- Constipation
- Muscle cramps
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Low sodium levels (hyponatraemia) causing confusion, drowsiness, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, rapid weight gain, swelling of hands/ankles/feet, convulsions, or coma
- Allergic reactions including shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of face/lips/tongue, rash, itching, or hives
- Anaphylactic reaction (life-threatening allergic reaction)
Important Warnings
Nocdurna can cause serious side effects, particularly low sodium levels in the blood. Your doctor will need to monitor you carefully.
Who Should Not Take Nocdurna
Don’t take Nocdurna if you’re allergic to desmopressin, have excessive thirst or drink large amounts of fluids, have heart failure, kidney disease, are taking diuretics, have or had low sodium levels, have cognitive impairment or dementia, have SIADH hormone disorder, or conditions causing fluid/salt imbalance like eating disorders or chronic vomiting.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you’re over 65 or feel frail, have kidney disease, diabetes, severe bladder problems, liver disease, heart or blood vessel disease, high blood pressure, systemic infections, fever, cystic fibrosis, or any condition causing fluid or salt imbalance.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Nocdurna should only be given to pregnant women if benefits outweigh risks. It’s not recommended while breastfeeding as the active ingredient passes into breast milk.
Elderly Patients: If you’re over 65 years of age, female, 75 years or older, or feel frail, you may be at increased risk of side effects, particularly low sodium levels.
Drug Interactions
Several medications can interfere with Nocdurna and increase the risk of serious side effects like fluid buildup and low sodium levels.
- Loperamide (anti-diarrheal medicine)
- Tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs
- Chlorpromazine or carbamazepine
- Diabetes medications, especially sulfonylureas like chlorpropamide
- NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
- Diuretics (water tablets like thiazides or loop diuretics)
- Oxytocin
- ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers
- Lithium (may reduce Nocdurna’s effect)
Alcohol & Driving
Nocdurna is not expected to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, but you should be aware of fluid restrictions and potential side effects.
Alcohol
Avoid alcohol and caffeine-containing beverages before bedtime as lifestyle changes to help manage nocturia.
Driving and Operating Machinery
This medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
Storage
Keep Nocdurna sublingual wafers in their original container to protect from moisture and light until it’s time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place where temperature stays below 25°C, away from moisture, heat, or sunlight. Don’t store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground.
Overdose Information
If you think you’ve taken too much Nocdurna, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine. Overdose symptoms may include confusion, drowsiness, continuing headache, nausea, vomiting, rapid weight gain due to water buildup, or in severe cases, convulsions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Take Nocdurna exactly 1 hour before bedtime. Don’t take it with food as this may reduce its effectiveness.
You must limit fluid intake to a minimum from 1 hour before taking Nocdurna until 8 hours after. If you absolutely need to drink during this time, take only a few sips of water. Remember to drink normally during the day to prevent dehydration.
If a tablet breaks into more than two pieces while removing it from the blister, don’t take the broken pieces. Take a tablet from another blister instead.
Your doctor will monitor your sodium levels before starting treatment, during the first week (4-8 days), one month after starting, and then every 3-6 months or when your other medications change.
Don’t stop taking Nocdurna or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor first. If you stop suddenly, your condition may worsen. Treatment should only be interrupted or stopped on your doctor’s advice.
Watch for headache, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, confusion, drowsiness, rapid weight gain, or swelling of hands, ankles, or feet. In severe cases, convulsions may occur. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.
If you’re over 65, female, 75 or older, or feel frail, you may be at increased risk of side effects. Your doctor will monitor you more closely and may need to adjust your treatment.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.