Short answer: The DDAVP Tablets label gives one side-effect rate: headache, 4% vs 3% on placebo in bedwetting trials. Its main warning is low blood sodium (hyponatremia) and water intoxication, which can be fatal if not treated, so fluid restriction is recommended. Signs include headache, nausea, weight gain, confusion and, if severe, seizures. The label has no boxed warning.
What DDAVP Tablets is approved for: DDAVP Tablets are a synthetic form of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin, approved as replacement therapy for central diabetes insipidus, for temporary excess urination and thirst after head trauma or pituitary surgery, and for primary nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting), alone or with behavioral methods (Indications and Usage). They do not work for nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
Source
DDAVP Tablets (desmopressin acetate) 0.1 mg and 0.2 mg, prescribing information. Ferring Pharmaceuticals. DailyMed, version published December 10, 2025. DailyMed setid 6d55baa9-2b62-469c-93ae-3909ab249332
No. The current DDAVP Tablets label has no boxed warning.
These are the label's own numbers from the Adverse Reactions section. Where the label compares with placebo (a dummy treatment), both columns are shown, so you can see how much more often a reaction happened on DDAVP Tablets.
| Setting | What the label lists |
|---|---|
| Primary nocturnal enuresis, controlled trials | Headache: 4% on DDAVP vs 3% on placebo (the only adverse event in at least 3% of patients that was probably, possibly or remotely related to the drug) |
| Central diabetes insipidus, studies up to 44 months | Occasional temporary AST (liver enzyme) rises no higher than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal, which returned to normal despite continued use |
| Large doses of the nasal or injected forms | Temporary headache, nausea, flushing and mild abdominal cramps, which went away with a lower dose |
| Other reports, relationship not established | Abnormal thinking, diarrhea, and edema-weight gain |
| Postmarketing | Rare hyponatremic convulsions with oxybutynin or imipramine taken at the same time |
The label gives no full side-effect table. The headache rate is from controlled trials of DDAVP Tablets in primary nocturnal enuresis; the other rows have no percentages.
| Measure | Placebo (n = 85) | 0.2 mg/day (n = 79) | 0.4 mg/day (n = 82) | 0.6 mg/day (n = 83) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 10 (0.3) | 11 (0.3) | 10 (0.3) | 10 (0.3) |
| Reduction from Baseline | 1 (0.3) | 3 (0.4) | 3 (0.4) | 4 (0.4) |
| Percent Reduction from Baseline | 10% | 27% | 30% | 40% |
Two placebo-controlled studies in 340 children and teens aged 5 to 17; 329 were evaluated. All doses were significantly better than placebo (p<0.05).
In 46 people taking DDAVP Tablets for 12 to 44 months, no rise in blood pressure, no loss of effect and no antibodies to desmopressin were seen.
The drug's half-life rose from 3 hours in healthy people to 9 hours in severe kidney impairment, which is why moderate to severe kidney impairment is a contraindication.
The antidiuretic effect starts about 1 hour after a tablet and peaks at about 4 to 7 hours. Doses of 0.1 to 0.2 mg worked for up to 8 hours in most people; 0.4 mg for up to 12 hours.
Used in children 4 and older with diabetes insipidus for up to 44 months, and in children 6 and older with bedwetting for up to 6 months, with no rise in side effects at higher doses or longer use.
The Warnings and Precautions part of the label lists these. Each line gives the label's heading and what it means in plain words.
Who should not take it. People allergic to desmopressin or the tablet ingredients, people with moderate to severe kidney impairment (creatinine clearance below 50 mL/min), and people with low blood sodium now or in the past.
Low blood sodium and water intoxication. DDAVP is a strong antidiuretic and may cause water intoxication and hyponatremia, which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated. Fluid restriction is recommended and careful medical supervision is required. Fluid intake is lowered especially in children and older adults.
Signs of low blood sodium. Headache, nausea or vomiting, low serum sodium, weight gain, restlessness, tiredness, lethargy, disorientation, weak reflexes, loss of appetite, irritability, muscle weakness, spasms or cramps, and changed mental state such as hallucinations or confusion. Severe cases can cause seizures, coma or stopped breathing.
Excessive thirst. DDAVP is used with caution in people with habitual or psychogenic polydipsia, who may drink too much water and are at greater risk of low sodium.
Blood pressure and fluid balance. High nasal or injected doses have slightly raised blood pressure, so caution is used with coronary or hypertensive heart disease, and in conditions prone to low sodium such as cystic fibrosis, heart failure and kidney disorders.
Medicines that raise the risk. Tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, chlorpromazine, opiate pain medicines, NSAIDs, lamotrigine and carbamazepine may raise the risk of water intoxication with low sodium and are used with caution.
Dose Track has a side-effect log. Each entry records the symptom, a severity (none, mild, moderate, severe or life-threatening), the date and an optional note, and can be tied to a specific dose or logged on its own. The history screen shows what you logged over time, which makes it easier to tell your prescriber when a reaction started and whether it is easing. The app records what you enter; it does not judge whether a symptom is serious. For anything on the label's call-your-doctor list, call your doctor.
This page is what the FDA label says, in plain words. It is not medical advice. Follow your prescriber, and ask them or your pharmacist about anything here.