Does DDVAP work for bedwetting?

DDAVP is very effective in stopping night time bed wetting and is an excellent choice when one is going for a trip or to sleep over at friend’s house.

Most parents report that DDAVP immediately decreases enuresis in their child. The drug only decreases the frequency of bed wetting but does not cure the problem. Most health care professionals recommend that after a period of 1-2 months, the dose of DDAVP should be slowly decreased. However, most data indicate that relapse of enuresis is quite common when the drug is stopped or the dosage is decreased. This cycle of re-starting and tapering DDAVP usually goes on for months, before one can finally stop the drug.

Unfortunately, in some children DDAVP is required to control bed wetting for many months. In such cases, a few parents tolerate some degree of bed wetting and stop the drug cold turkey.

To ensure that DDAVP works, it is important not to give the child any fluids before bedtime. Current data indicate that DDAVP works in about 60-80 percent of children with primary enuresis. There are limited data on DDAVP in adults but the success rate is very low.