VASOPRESSIN (Pitressin®)

Question 1

Generic/Trade Name

VASOPRESSIN

Answer 1

Pitressin®

Question 2

Generic/Trade Name

Pitressin®

Answer 2

VASOPRESSIN

Question 3

VASOPRESSIN (Pitressin®)

Drug Classification:

Answer 3

Hormone

Vasopressor

Question 4

VASOPRESSIN (Pitressin®)

Mechanism of Action:

Answer 4

V1 R Agonist ⇒ Works on vascular smooth muscle cells, by second messenger with G-proteins, causing a cascade of reactions leading to release of calcium from sarcoplasmic reticulum. Increased calcium leads to sustained contractions by VSMC, leading to vasoconstriction

**(Works on VSMC due to released calcium, causing sustained contractions and vasoconstriction.)

Question 5

VASOPRESSIN (Pitressin®)

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 5

• Onset of Action = Varies
• Peak Effects = Varies
• Duration of Effect = 30-60 minutes
• Half-Life = 10-20 minutes

Question 6

VASOPRESSIN (Pitressin®)

Indications & Contraindications

Answer 6

Indications/Field Use:
• To increase peripheral vascular resistance during CPR

Contraindications:
None in Cardiac Arrest

Question 7

VASOPRESSIN (Pitressin®)

Side Effects/Adverse Reactions:

Answer 7

Minor dysrhythmia, bradycardia, HTN,

blanching of skin, abdominal cramps, nausea

Question 8

VASOPRESSIN (Pitressin®)

Adult & Pedi Dose:

Answer 8

(ADULT): 40 units IV,IO, single dose only, to replace the first or second dose of Epi

(PEDI): Not for pediatrics

Question 9

VASOPRESSIN (Pitressin®)

Precautions:

Answer 9

Caution with patients with epilepsy, migraine, asthma, heart failure, and angina

May cause vasoconstriction of coronary arteries, increasing myocardial oxygen demand

Question 10

VASOPRESSIN (Pitressin®)

Drug-Drug Interactions:

Answer 10

None in ACLS