Vaprisol (Conivaptan Hcl Injection) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 27, 2012

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Hyponatremia (Low Blood Sodium) »

What is hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?

Hyponatremia refers to a lower-than-normal level of sodium in the blood. Sodium is essential for many body functions including the maintenance of fluid balance, regulation of blood pressure, and normal function of the nervous system. Hyponatremia has sometimes been referred to as "water intoxication," especially when it is due to the consumption of excess water, for example during strenuous exercise, without adequate replacement of sodium.

Sodium is the major positively charged ion (cation) in the fluid outside of cells of the body. The chemical notation for sodium is Na. When combined with chloride (Cl), the resulting substance is table salt (NaCl).

The normal blood sodium level is 135 - 145 milliEquivalents/liter (mEq/L), or in international units, 135 - 145 millimoles/liter (mmol/L). Results may vary slightly among different laboratories.

What causes hyponatremia ...

Read the Hyponatremia (Low Blood Sodium) article »

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Vaprisol Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my health care provider before receiving conivaptan (Vaprisol)?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to conivaptan, or if you are using any of the following drugs:

ketoconazole (Nizoral);
itraconazole (Sporanox);
clarithromycin (Biaxin);
ritonavir (Norvir); or
indinavir (Crixivan).

Before you receive this conivaptan, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

congestive heart failure;
liver disease; or
kidney disease.

If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may not be able to receive conivaptan or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

Conivaptan is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known if it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known if conivaptan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How is conivaptan used (Vaprisol)?

Conivaptan is given as an injection (infusion) into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will give you the medicine through an IV line and a needle placed into one of your large veins (such as in your upper chest).

Conivaptan 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.

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