The drug is for in hospitalized patients with the blood sodium illness hypervolemic hyponatremia.
Vaprisol is the first drug specifically indicated for the treatment of both euvolemic and hypervolemic hypnattremia.
Vaprisol was approved by the FDA as a treatment for euvolemic hyponatremia in December 2005, and has been marketed by Astellas since April 2006.
While many patients with hyponatremia have no symptoms, severe cases are medical emergencies that can result in the swelling of the brain, respiratory arrest and death.
In the treatment of hyponatremia associated with congestive heart failure, Vaprisol is indicated only for those patients for whom the expected benefit of raising serum sodium outweighs the increased risk of adverse events.
In a study, intravenous administration of Vaprisol 40mg/day for four days achieved clinically meaningful aquaresis which resulted in increased serum sodium levels in patients.