Conivaptan: new treatment for hyponatremia.
OBJECTIVE
The pharmacology, bioavailability and pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, adverse effects and toxicities, drug interactions, dosage and administration, and safety issues related to the use of conivaptan are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Conivaptan hydrochloride is a nonpeptide, V1A and V2 vasopressin-receptor antagonist. It is available as an i.v. formulation in 4-mL ampules containing 20 mg of conivaptan hydrochloride. The drug is active both orally and i.v. Conivaptan injection is approved for the treatment of euvolemic hyponatremia in hospitalized patients. Three double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter studies have been conducted in the United States and internationally. The studies used various dosing regimens for conivaptan but maintained the same efficacy endpoints. Each study showed conivaptan to be effective in increasing serum sodium and in water clearance. Conivaptan is being evaluated in the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure and chronic heart failure, but the safety of this drug has not been fully established. The drug has been generally well tolerated in clinical trials with both oral and i.v. administration. The approved dosing regimen consists of a 20-mg i.v. loading dose administered over 30 minutes, followed by a continuous infusion of 20 mg administered over 24 hours. Clinical studies evaluating conivaptan have been short term; longer-term effects of hemodynamic parameters are unknown.


CONCLUSIONS
Conivaptan, the first vasopressin antagonist approved for the treatment of euvolemic hyponatremia, has a unique mechanism of action that results in free-water excretion and offers a new option for the treatment of resistant hyponatremia in the acute setting when patients have not responded to standard management.
Walter
Kimberly A
KA
Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA.
D000818:Animals; D065092:Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016527:Drug Costs; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D065092:Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; D001552:Benzazepines; C106389:conivaptan