Vasopressin
Also referenced as: Vasostrict
An endogenous nonapeptide used as a vasopressor in defined adult shock care.
- Evidence grade
- BModerate Human Evidence
Moderate Human Evidence
- Regulatory status
- FDA Approved for Specific Indication
Approved IV products increase blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines.
- Human data
- Yes
Registered clinical trials exist
- Last reviewed
- October 27, 2026
Overview
An endogenous nonapeptide used as a vasopressor in defined adult shock care.
Approved IV products increase blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines.
The approved shock indication is not evidence for routine hormone optimization or cardiovascular health enhancement.
Why It's Being Studied
- Vasodilatory shock
- Vascular tone
- Water regulation
Mechanism of Action
V1 receptors mediate vasoconstriction while V2 receptors affect water retention.
V1 receptors mediate vasoconstriction while V2 receptors affect water retention. The approved shock indication is not evidence for routine hormone optimization or cardiovascular health enhancement.
From molecular target to clinical evidence
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Background: Clinical Peptide Medicines
Clinical peptide medicines include endocrine treatments, antimicrobial drugs, receptor blockers and targeted diagnostic or cancer agents. They do not share one mechanism or one set of indications.
An approval belongs to a specific medicine and indication. A diagnostic tracer, an antibiotic and a hormone are not interchangeable wellness products; read each profile's own mechanism and prescribing source.
Research Areas & Routes Studied
- Vasodilatory shock
- Vascular tone
- Water regulation
- Intravenous approved medicine
Evidence Summary
Clinical evidence supports vasopressor use in vasodilatory shock; a general survival-enhancing benefit is not established.
Higher tiers carry more weight. Filled tiers have evidence for Vasopressin; tap to read it.
- Clinical evidence supports vasopressor use in vasodilatory shock; a general survival-enhancing benefit is not established.
1 cited sources.
- Prescribing label1
Human clinical evidence
- Clinical evidence supports vasopressor use in vasodilatory shock; a general survival-enhancing benefit is not established.
Reported Adverse Events in Research
- Ischemia, reduced cardiac output, arrhythmias and hyponatremia are important risks.
Limitations of Current Evidence
- The approved shock indication is not evidence for routine hormone optimization or cardiovascular health enhancement.
- Findings apply to the product, route and population studied; they do not establish benefits or safety for unrelated wellness uses or research-vial products.
How to Read This Research
- Is this a single molecule or a family of medicines?
- Is the use diagnostic, therapeutic or investigational?
- Does the quoted outcome match the exact product, formulation and population?
- Use the compound-specific mechanism above; this diagram describes drug development, not a shared biological pathway.
- Historical approval, present availability and off-label use are distinct questions.
- For radiopharmaceuticals and hospital medicines, specialist handling is part of the treatment context.
- Indication
- The condition and population for which a medicine is approved.
- Antagonist
- A compound that blocks activity at a receptor.
- Radiopharmaceutical
- A medicine containing a radioactive isotope for imaging or treatment.
Compare With Other Compounds
| Vasopressin | Trofinetide | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence grade | B — Moderate Human Evidence | B — Moderate Human Evidence |
| Regulatory status | FDA Approved for Specific Indication | FDA Approved for Specific Indication |
| Human data | Yes | Yes |
| Clinical trials | Registered trials exist | Registered trials exist |
| Research routes | Intravenous approved medicine | Oral approved medicine |
| Cited sources | 1 | 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Research References
- Prescribing label
Vasopressin — prescribing label