Treatment of nocturnal enuresis with DDAVP is associated with a low in
cidence of adverse effects. The only reported serious adverse effect i
s seizure or altered level of consciousness due to water intoxication.
We reviewed 14 articles that reported data on serum sodium in patient
s treated with DDAVP for nocturnal enuresis and 11 articles that repor
ted patients who developed a seizure or altered level of consciousness
during treatment with DDAVP for nocturnal enuresis. Excess fluid inta
ke was identified as a contributing factor in 6 of the 11 case reports
. Conclusion Hyponatremia is a potential adverse effect inpatients wit
h nocturnal enuresis who are treated with DDAVP, To prevent this adver
se effect, we recommend that the patients prescribed DDAVP for nocturn
al enuresis should be led not to ingest more than 40 ml (8 ounces) of
fluid on any night that DDAVP is administered.