Used for the treatment of heart failure when clinical benefit of raising serum sodium outweighs the increased risk of adverse events for heart failure patients.
Arginine vasopressin blockade.
Blocks V2 receptors in collecting ducts of the kidneys.
Causes aquaresis, the electrolyte sparing excretion of free water.
Contraindicated in hypovolemic hyponatremia.
Contraindicated with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors, which includes ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, ritanovir and indinavar.
Intravenous dose at 40 mg a day increases plasma sodium levels by mean of 6.3 mmol per liter.