Nasal administration of desmopressin by spray and drops.

A solution of desmopressin was administered intranasally as a spray using a metered dose pump, or as drops using a single dose pipette or rhinyle catheter. Volunteers, and patients with diabetes insipidus, were given an intranasal dose of 20 micrograms desmopressin by each method. The antidiuretic activity was measured by determination of urine osmolality and diuresis. Each delivery system was equally effective in producing a rapid onset of activity, a highly reproducible magnitude of effect and duration of the antidiuretic effect which lasted for more than 8 h. The pipette and spray pump offer a choice of single dose administration without preservative, or for chronic use, well-controlled, reproducible dosing, respectively.