Oral desmopressin acetate (DDAVP®) in the treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE)

An estimated 5.7 million U.S. children 6 years of age or older suffer from primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE), an inability to control overnight bedwetting. Intranasally-administered desmopressin (DDAVP®) has been effectively employed for nearly 10 years in helping to control PNE by decreasing nocturnal urine output to a volume less than the child's functional bladder capacity. A new oral formulation of desmopressin, which is easier and more comfortable to administer, has proven highly effective and safe in controlling overnight bedwetting in both short-term (6-week) and long-term (24-week) clinical trials. Initial therapy begins at a dosage of 200 μg daily, with upward titration to 400 μg or 600 μg/day as needed to achieve an optimal treatment response. The efficacy and safety profile of oral desmopressin makes it the logical first choice of pharmacologic agents available for the treatment of PNE.