Tolvaptan
Description
Tolvaptan is a medicine used for the treatment of hyponatraemia (decreased blood sodium levels), which may occur due to various conditions such as heart failure (heart is unable to pump a sufficient amount of blood) and certain hormonal imbalances. This medicine works by reducing the excretion of sodium through urine and increasing the water content of the urine.
Tolvaptan can cause side effects like dehydration, increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, headache, tiredness, etc. Consult your doctor if these side effects bother you for a long time or become worse. Avoid driving vehicles and operating machines while taking this medicine, as it can make you feel dizzy.
Tolvaptan may be initiated by your doctor in the hospital with close monitoring of your clinical condition. Once your doctor decides that your condition is suitable to take this medicine at home, take it as instructed by your doctor. Take it at the same time every day for the ease of remembering. Avoid taking more than the prescribed dose, more often than recommended, or for a longer duration, as it may increase the risk of undesired effects. After discontinuing this medicine, do not start taking it again on your own as it may cause serious side effects.
Tolvaptan is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor about your pre-existing medical conditions and current medications before starting the treatment. This will help your doctor to adjust your dose to avoid undesired effects. Tolvaptan is not recommended for use if you are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Tolvaptan
- Stomach pain
- Dry mouth
- Increased urination
- Increased thirst
- Sweating
- Dehydration
- Dizziness
- Dry skin
- Headache
- Tiredness
Uses of Tolvaptan
What is it prescribed for?
- Hyponatremia
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for Tolvaptan to show its action is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe time duration for which Tolvaptan remains active in your body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported for Tolvaptan.
- Usage in pregnancy?Tolvaptan is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it may harm your developing foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Tolvaptan is not recommended for use while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Tolvaptan is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any symptoms such as skin rash, hives (itchy, painful eruptions that sting), itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, difficulty breathing, etc.
Unable to sense or respond to thirst
Tolvaptan is not recommended for use if you are unable to sense or respond to thirst due to the increased risk of severe dehydration.
Anuria
Anuria is a condition where the kidney is unable to produce urine. Tolvaptan is not recommended for use in anuria as it may worsen your condition.
Volume depletion
Volume depletion refers to the loss of salt and fluid from the body that exceeds intake on a sustained basis. Tolvaptan is not recommended for use if you have volume depletion as it may lead to severe dehydration.
Hypernatraemia
Hypernatraemia refers to an abnormally high concentration of sodium in your blood. Tolvaptan is not recommended for use if you have hypernatraemia as it may cause a further increase in blood sodium levels and worsen your condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Tolvaptan is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it may harm your developing foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
Tolvaptan is not recommended for use while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Dehydration
Tolvaptan should be used with caution due to the increased risk of severe dehydration. Consume an adequate amount of water to prevent dehydration during treatment with this medicine.
Use in children
Tolvaptan is not recommended for use in children less than 18 years of age as the safety and efficacy data are not clinically established.
Driving or operating machines
Tolvaptan may occasionally cause dizziness and tiredness. Hence, avoid driving vehicles and operating machines until you know how this medicine affects you.
Missed Dose
Since Tolvaptan is usually taken in a hospital, under medical supervision, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low. If you are taking this medicine at your home, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for the next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose. Do not use a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
Overdose
Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical intervention if you suspect an overdose of Tolvaptan.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Phenobarbital
Ketoconazole
Ramipril
Disease interactions
Liver Disease
Tolvaptan should be used with extreme caution if you have liver problems due to the increased risk of liver injury. Your doctor may suggest tests to monitor your liver function while you are taking this medicine. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms such as tiredness, loss of appetite, right upper stomach pain, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
Kidney Disease
Tolvaptan should be used with extreme caution if you have kidney problems as it may further worsen your condition. Your doctor may suggest tests to monitor your kidney function while you are taking this medicine.
Food interactions
Consumption of grapefruit juice is not recommended during treatment with Tolvaptan due to the increased risk of serious side effects such as difficulty swallowing, trouble speaking, muscle weakness, confusion, mood changes, seizures (fits), etc.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
The first few doses of Tolvaptan will be given in a hospital with close monitoring of your clinical condition.
If you are allowed to take this medicine at home, follow all the instructions given by your doctor.
Drink an adequate amount of water to prevent dehydration during treatment with this medicine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Tolvaptan increases the amount of water in the urine reduces the excretion of sodium through the urine, thus increasing the sodium level in the body.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Vasopressin antagonists
Schedule
Schedule H
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Medicines.org.uk. 2022. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 2 February 2022].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2022. DailyMed - TOLVAPTAN tablet. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 2 February 2022].
Rad-ar.or.jp. 2022. Search results detail| Kusurino-Shiori(Drug information Sheet). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 2 February 2022].
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Information on this page was last updated on 15 Feb 2022
Disclaimer
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