This is a posterior pituitary hormone.

Indications: diabetes insipidus; bleeding from oesophageal varices.

Cautions: heart failure, hypertension, asthma, epilepsy, migraine and other conditions aggravated by water retention, renal impairment, pregnancy.

Contra-indications: Coronary artery disease, chronic nephritis.

Side Effects: fluid retention, pallor, tremor, sweating, vertigo, headache, nausea, vomiting, belching, abdominal cramps, desire to defecate, hypersensitivity reaction including anaphylaxis, constriction of coronary arteries leading to anginal attacks, myocardial and/or peripheral ischemia and rarely gangrene.

Dose: by Subcutaneous or IM injection, diabetes insipidus, 5-20 units at least twice daily.

By intravenous infusion, variceal bleeding, 5-20 units over 15 minutes.