Vasopressin: the basics
What is it?
A natural hormone that helps regulate water balance and blood-vessel tightness. Prescription vasopressin can support blood pressure in critical illness.
Research paper ↗What do people claim it helps with?
Supporting dangerously low blood pressure in certain forms of shock is a medical use. Memory, bonding or general wellness claims are different questions.
What has research actually shown?
Human shock trials examine blood-pressure support and patient outcomes. Better blood pressure does not automatically mean improved survival; results depend on the clinical situation.
Research paper ↗Has this been demonstrated in people?
Demonstrated in people, including controlled clinical trials for the uses described here. Evidence for one diagnosis does not establish benefit for every other claim.
Research paper ↗What side effects, risks and unknowns should I understand?
It can reduce blood supply to the heart, gut or limbs and affect heart rhythm and blood sodium. Intensive monitoring is needed.
Prescribing information ↗Is it an approved medicine?
Yes. Vasopressin injection is FDA-approved to increase blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock that remains low despite fluids and other blood-pressure medicines.
Prescribing information ↗Approval here means U.S. FDA approval and applies to a particular product, formulation and use. This is a starting overview, not a complete side-effect list. Sources checked 10 October 2026; independent scientific review pending.
How is it used or studied?
Intravenous infusion in monitored hospital care.
Different routes and formulations can have different effects. A study of one product does not validate every product with the same peptide name.
A common misunderstanding
Vasopressin and desmopressin are related but different medicines with different indications.
What should I ask a clinician?
- What diagnosis or goal are we trying to address, and what established options are available?
- Was the expected benefit shown in people like me, using this exact product?
- How could my medicines, health conditions or pregnancy plans affect the risks?
- What monitoring is needed, and what would tell us the treatment is helping or should be stopped?
What do the research words mean?
- Peptide
- A short chain of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
- Preclinical
- Research in cells, tissues or animals before dependable treatment evidence in people.
- Controlled trial
- A study comparing a treatment with another treatment or a placebo to help separate its effects from other explanations.
- Biomarker
- A measurement, such as a hormone level. A change does not necessarily mean someone feels better or lives longer.
Vasopressin Evidence & Clinical Profile
Established Clinical Trials
Vasopressin has been investigated in clinical contexts. Patient outcomes must be evaluated against study size, design, and control cohorts.
Laboratory & In Vivo Assays
Cellular and animal disease models examine receptor binding affinities and signaling cascades, which require human confirmation.
What is Vasopressin?
Arginine Vasopressin (Vasostrict / AVP) is An endogenous nonapeptide hormone that governs osmotic water homeostasis and systemic arterial tone. Approved under the brand name Vasostrict to increase blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines. Aliases include: Vasostrict, Pitressin, Antidiuretic Hormone, ADH, Argipressin.
- Sequence (one-letter)
- CYFQNCPRG-NH2
- Molecular formula
- C46H65N15O12S2
- Molecular weight
- 1084.2 g/mol
- CAS Number
- 113-79-1
- UNII Code
- Y4907O6MFD
- PubChem CID
- 644077
Identifiers are for argipressin (arginine vasopressin), the human form used in U.S. medicines. "Vasopressin, unspecified" (argipressin or lypressin) carries UNII Y87Y826H08 and CAS 11000-17-2.
Identifiers checked against PubChem and FDA's Global Substance Registration System on 13 October 2026. FDA substance record ↗ · PubChem record ↗ See all names and codes in the peptide name index.
Clinical Trials & Human Cohorts
Human research can examine tolerability, symptoms or patient outcomes. The design and comparator determine what each result can establish.
Vasopressin versus Norepinephrine Infusion in Patients with Septic Shock (VASST) [1]
What was reported
No significant difference in 28-day mortality (35.4% vs 39.3%) or 90-day mortality; in the prospectively defined less-severe shock stratum, 28-day mortality was lower with vasopressin (26.5% vs 35.7%, P=0.05).
What limits the conclusion
The primary endpoint was not met, and the test for heterogeneity between severity strata was not significant.
Effect of Early Vasopressin vs Norepinephrine on Kidney Failure in Septic Shock [2]
What was reported
Early vasopressin did not improve kidney failure-free days versus norepinephrine; renal replacement therapy use was lower with vasopressin (25.4% vs 35.3%).
What limits the conclusion
No significant difference in mortality; the confidence interval still included a potentially important benefit, so larger trials may be needed.
How the compound may work
Mechanisms describe how Vasopressin may affect biological processes. Laboratory findings and patient outcomes answer different questions.
V1 Vascular Smooth Muscle Vasoconstriction
Vasopressin causes vasoconstriction through V1-receptor activation on vascular smooth muscle; at low plasma concentrations it can dilate coronary, cerebral and pulmonary arteries. [3]
V2 Receptor Renal Water Reabsorption
Vasopressin's antidiuretic effect is mediated by V2-receptor activation in the renal collecting duct system. [3]
Areas Being Studied
These research topics reflect active areas of scientific exploration, distinct from unverified commercial marketing claims.
Compare the study designs.
| Study | Design / sample | Outcome type | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VASST Multicenter Trial · 2008 [1] | Double-blind randomized controlled trial n = 778 |
Clinical endpoint evaluation | The primary endpoint was not met, and the test for heterogeneity between severity strata was not significant. |
| VANISH Trial · 2016 [2] | Double-blind factorial RCT n = 409 |
Clinical endpoint evaluation | No significant difference in mortality; the confidence interval still included a potentially important benefit, so larger trials may be needed. |
Regulatory Status & Clinical Safety
Regulatory Classification
FDA approved (NDA 204485) for increasing blood pressure in vasodilatory septic shock.
Safety Realities & Impurities
Safety depends on the molecule, formulation, route and evidence. A laboratory purity measurement alone cannot establish safety for human use.
Clinical Trials Registry Records
Official registry records from ClinicalTrials.gov. Study registration does not imply government endorsement or guaranteed efficacy.
WADA & Anti-Doping Regulations
WADA Anti-Doping Status
Vasopressin is not prohibited under current World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations. However, athletes must ensure unregulated preparations or unverified vendor products do not violate Section S0 (Non-approved substances). Last verified: October 2026.
Research Timeline
-
1895
Vasopressor Action
Oliver and Schäfer demonstrate hypertensive response to pituitary extract. [5]
-
1954
Chemical Synthesis
Vincent du Vigneaud and colleagues report a synthetic preparation with the biological properties of arginine vasopressin. [6]
-
2008
VASST NEJM Publication
Large randomized trial finds no 28-day mortality difference between vasopressin and norepinephrine in septic shock. [1]
-
2014
FDA Approval
Vasostrict receives FDA approval for vasodilatory shock. [4]
What Researchers Still Don't Know
Long-term safety profiles
Multi-year observational data in broader heterogeneous cohorts remains uncharacterized.
Optimal dose-response thresholds
Comparative trials optimizing minimal effective exposure versus adverse event rates.
Formulation bioavailability
Differences between oral, subcutaneous, and modified peptide delivery vehicles.
References
Primary sources verified against PubMed / NLM and regulatory databases.
-
Landmark RCT
Vasopressin versus norepinephrine infusion in patients with septic shock ↗ (external website)
- Clinical RCT
-
Physiology Review
Physiology of vasopressin relevant to management of septic shock ↗ (external website)
-
Regulatory
Vasostrict (Vasopressin Injection) Prescribing Information ↗ (external website)
- Historical Landmark
- Biochemical Landmark