Stimate® Nasal Spray contains as active substance, desmopressin acetate, which is a synthetic analogue of the natural hormone arginine vasopressin. One spray or 0.1 mL (150 mcg) of Stimate® Nasal Spray solution has an antidiuretic activity of about 600 IU.

Desmopressin acetate has been shown to be more potent than arginine vasopressin in increasing plasma levels of Factor VIII activity in patients with hemophilia and von Willebrand's disease Type I.

Dose-response studies were performed in healthy persons using doses of 150 to 450 mcg, administered as one to three sprays. The response to Stimate® Nasal Sprayis dose-related, with maximal plasma levels of 150 to 250 percent of initial concentrations achieved for both Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor.¹ The increase is rapid and evident within 30 minutes, reaching a maximum at about 1.5 hours.¹

The percentage increase of Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor levels in patients with mild hemophilia A and von Willebrand's disease was not notably different from that observed in normal healthy individuals when treated with 300 mcg of Stimate® Nasal Spray.^1-4 In patients with von Willebrand's disease, levels of Factor VIII coagulant activity and von Willebrand factor antigen remained greater than 30 U/dL for 8 hours after a 300 mcg dose of Stimate® Nasal Spray.⁵ After 300 mcg of Stimate® Nasal Spray, the percentage increase of Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor levels in patients with mild hemophilia A and von Willebrand's disease was less than observed after 0.3 mcg/kg of intravenous desmopressin acetate.^2-4

Plasminogen activator activity increases rapidly after intravenous desmopressin acetate infusion, but there has been no clinically significant fibrinolysis in patients treated with desmopressin acetate.

The effect of repeated intravenous desmopressin acetate administration when doses were given every 12 to 24 hours has generally shown a diminution of the Factor VIII activity increase noted after a single dose. It is possible to reproduce the initial response in some patients after an interval of one week, but other patients may require as long as 6 weeks.^2,4,6

The half-life of Stimate® Nasal Spraywas between 3.3 and 3.5 hours, over the range of intranasal doses, 150 to 450 mcg.¹ Plasma concentrations of Stimate® Nasal Spraywere maximal approximately 40 to 45 minutes after dosing.¹

The bioavailability of Stimate® Nasal Spraywhen administered by the intranasal route as a 1.5 mg/mL solution is between 3.3 and 4.1 percent.¹

The change in structure of arginine vasopressin to desmopressin acetate has resulted in a decreased vasopressor action and decreased actions on visceral smooth muscle relative to the enhanced antidiuretic activity, so that clinically effective antidiuretic doses are usually below threshold levels for effects on vascular or visceral smooth muscle.

REFERENCES

1. RHÔNE-POULENC RORER STUDY RG-83884-141:An Open-Label Pharmacokinetic Comparison of Desmopressin Acetate Administration by Intranasal (1.5 mg/mL) and Intravenous Routes: A Dose-Proportionality Trial.

2. RHÔNE-POULENC RORER STUDY RG-83884-142:Nasal Spray Desmopressin (DDAVP). A simple Technique for Treatment of Mild Hemophilia A and von Willebrand's disease.

3. RHÔNE-POULENC RORER STUDY RG-83884-143:Intranasal Desmopressin (DDAVP) by spray in Mild Hemophilia A and von Willebrand's disease Type I.

4. RHÔNE-POULENC RORER STUDY RG-83884-144:Evaluation of Intranasal Spray DDAVP in Patients with Mild or Moderate Hemophilia A or von Willebrand's disease: Inpatient Trial.

5. Lethagen S, Harris AS and Nilsson IM: Intranasal desmopressin (DDAVP) by spray in mild hemophilia A and von Willebrand's disease type I. Blut, 60:187-191, 1990.

6. Lethagen S, Harris AS, Sjörin E and Nilsson IM: Intranasal and intravenous administration of desmopressin: Effect on FVIII/vWF, pharmacokinetics and reproducibility. Thromb. Haemost., 58:1033-1036, 1987.

Last reviewed on RxList: 10/3/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.