Overproduction Of Urine At Night

As we explained, some children who wet by night apparently do so because of a shortage of the antidiuretic hormones, (ADH) vasopressin, which is produced in the brain and travels via the bloodstream to the kidneys. A synthetic version of this hormone, called desmopressin or DDAVP, may be prescribed to reduce the volume of urine produced. In many cases, the drug, which is delivered to the bloodstream via nasal spray, has quickly helped children experience dry nights.

One study published in 1993 reported that DDAVP not only works well in 75% of patients, but also that it is particularly effective (91 percent success) in patients with a family history of nocturnal enuresis. Children who wet by night and who also have a genetic predisposition to enuresis, such as having a parent who also wet his or her own bed beyond age six are likely to respond favorable to desmopressin. For children who bedwet as preteens or older, the use of a small amount of DDAVP as an adjunct to the use of the alarm, Ditropan, the elimination diet and the bowel program (if needed) add significantly to the ability to get to dry. This does not seem to be the case in younger children.

For those looking for a quick fix, desmopressin almost fills the bill. However, the drug has a few drawbacks:

1- Not all children who take desmopressin automatically get dry, it does not work for everyone. So, before you rely on the medication for an important event, do a dry run at home first.

2- When children stop taking the medication, about 80% of them show wetting relapses.

3- Physician have only limited long-term experience with the drug. Because of this, children should not use for longer than six months.

4- One month's supply of demospressin currently cost about eight dollars. Check your insurance regarding cost coverage.

5- The drug does not address the likely root problem of bedwetting, which is deep sleep.

6- Demopressin does not always work, especially during winter cold flu season, when children are likely to have nasal congestion. When the mucous membranes of the nose are inflamed, the amount of drug absorbed may be insufficient. However, DDAVP is now available in tablets from. This preparation may be opted from children who are congested nasally.

We recommend considering desmopressin if your child fits the correct profile and needs to be dry on demand at once. For instance, if she is going away for a special overnight activity or staying with a relative for a short period , the drug may be the best option. However, we do not consider desmopressin to be a good inital treatment to resolve wetting. We recommend that after children use it for the special activity, they should follow the full treatment program as soon as they return home. We also recommend desmopressin when both parents work and cannot sacrifice a goodnight sleep to get up repeatedly in response to an enuresis alarm. For such families, demopressin may be the best choice, at least for the time being. Of course, make sure your doctor has evaluated our child before prescribing desmopressin, and be certain that you understand all of the usage instructions.