Real-world safety and effectiveness of an initial 0.1 mg dose of desmopressin in older men with nocturnal polyuria

PURPOSE: We investigated the safety and effectiveness of oral desmopressin tablet (starting dose 0.1 mg) in older Taiwanese men with nocturnal polyuria and nocturia and compared results in those aged ≥ 80 years vs < 80 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred thirty-four Taiwanese men aged 60 years or older with nocturia (≥2 voids/night) and a nocturnal polyuria index of ≥ 33 were included. Patients received desmopressin 0.1 mg for up to 3 months. Effectiveness was evaluated at Month 1, and safety was assessed at Months 1, 2, and 3. RESULTS: < .001). In total, 39/234 (16.7%) discontinued desmopressin due to hyponatremia (determined through serum sodium monitoring). Twenty-eight patients with serum sodium decreases to ≤ 135 mmoL/L continued treatment for the full 3 months with appropriate dose adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides real-world evidence of effectiveness and safety of oral desmopressin in an older Asian male population, including a subgroup aged older than 80 years. A starting dose of 0.1 mg oral desmopressin, coupled with careful serum sodium monitoring and dose adjustment if required, was associated with significant improvement in all nocturia parameters and a high rate of continuation.