Peptide Profile
Vasopressin
ADH · Antidiuretic Hormone · Arginine Vasopressin · AVP
Vasopressin (arginine vasopressin, AVP) is an endogenous hypothalamic nonapeptide approved in pharmaceutical form for central diabetes insipidus and as a vasopressor in septic shock; it acts through V1a receptors in the…
- Half-life
- 10-20 minutes
- Routes
- intranasal, subcutaneous, intravenous
Educational research information — not medical advice. Review primary sources and consult a qualified professional before any decision.
Educational research tools — not medical advice.
What Vasopressin is
About Vasopressin
Neuropeptide binding V1aR (social behavior/memory, vasoconstriction), V1bR (ACTH/stress), V2R (antidiuretic); enhances hippocampal memory consolidation and social recognition
Vasopressin (arginine vasopressin, AVP) is an endogenous hypothalamic nonapeptide approved in pharmaceutical form for central diabetes insipidus and as a vasopressor in septic shock; it acts through V1a receptors in the vasculature and brain and V2 receptors in the renal collecting duct to regulate blood pressure, water balance, and stress responsiveness. In the central nervous system, vasopressin functions as a neuromodulator involved in social recognition, stress-related memory encoding, and hippocampal synaptic plasticity, with V1a receptor activation in the dentate gyrus facilitating neuronal excitability and long-term potentiation. Preclinical studies document vasopressin-mediated enhancement of LTP in hippocampal circuits, and human neuroimaging research has demonstrated differential effects of intranasal vasopressin on social and memory-related neural activity compared to placebo. Vasopressin is an FDA-approved prescription drug; its use via intranasal delivery for cognitive or behavioral applications is investigational, and clinical evidence for cognitive enhancement in healthy individuals is very limited. Vasopressin vs desmopressin: the selectivity tradeoff Vasopressin's clinical use is primarily in critical care — vasopressin 0.03–0.04 units/minute IV is a standard vasopressor in septic shock and vasodilatory shock refractory to catecholamines, acting through V1a receptors in vascular smooth muscle to increase systemic vascular resistance. For antidiuretic indications (diabetes insipidus, nocturia), desmopressin is used instead of vasopressin because desmopressin's V2-selective action avoids the vasoconstriction, hypertension, and cardiac effects that V1a receptor activation produces. The two compounds should not be used interchangeably for the same indication. Intranasal vasopressin for cognitive and social research: Research interest in intranasal vasopressin for cognitive and social function applications has produced a mixed literature. A well-cited 2019 study (Parker et al., PNAS) found intranasal vasopressin increased social communication in autistic children; a subsequent larger replication trial did not reproduce the finding. For memory enhancement in healthy adults, controlled studies have generally shown no consistent benefit from single-dose intranasal AVP, with vasopressin's cognitive effects mediated by complex V1a receptor signaling in the hippocampus and amygdala that appears state-dependent (most evident in stress contexts). The compound remains a research tool for neuroendocrinology rather than a validated cognitive enhancer, and exogenous intranasal vasopressin is not commercially available in Western markets for this use.
Vasopressin Benefits & Research Areas
Research Signals
Population research notes
These signals reflect research interest areas, not treatment indications.
Vasopressin half-life calculator
Compound & timing
Model: single-dose, first-order (single-compartment) estimate. Real clearance is multi-compartment and varies by individual and route.
What the evidence says about Vasopressin
Research Evidence
based on 7 studies · 1 RCT · most recent 2026
Regulatory Status
- Availability Status
- Prescription
- FDA Status
- FDA Approved
- Effective Date
- April 17, 2014
- Source
- View FDA source →
FDA-approved vasopressin injection. Brand: Vasostrict (NDA 204485, Apr 2014). Indicated for vasodilatory shock. As an FDA-approved drug with a USP monograph, it is compounded via the approved-drug / monograph route rather than the 503A bulk-substances list. Prescription only.
Regulatory status reflects publicly available information and may change. This is not legal or medical advice.
Research Sources
7 sources cited · 2 strong · 1 moderate · 4 weak
1 RCT · 1 Meta-analysis · 1 Case series · 1 Review · 3 Animals
The hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal system in preeclampsia: a systematic review with a subgroup meta-analysis of copeptin levels worldwide.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) · 2026
Sex differences in the neural and behavioral response to intranasal oxytocin and vasopressin during human social interaction
Psychoneuroendocrinology · 2013
Research in a randomized double-blind fMRI study found that intranasal arginine vasopressin increased conciliatory behavior in women and cooperation reciprocation in men during social interaction, with highly sexually differentiated neural responses in reward and social cognition regions, indicating that vasopressin effects on social cognition and behavior are strongly sex-dependent and require sex-stratified investigation.
Copeptin as a diagnostic tool in a patient with adipsia and hypernatremia.
JCEM Case Rep · 2026
# Summary This study demonstrated that copeptin measurement during osmotic stimulation can effectively identify impaired vasopressin secretion in patients with adipsia (absent thirst sensation) and hypernatremia, even when kidney function remains intact. Researchers observed that the patient's low-normal copeptin levels despite elevated serum sodium suggested a selective defect in osmolality-driven vasopressin release, establishing copeptin testing as a useful diagnostic tool for characterizing vasopressin dysfunction in rare adipsic disorders.
Show 4 more sources ↓
Pituitary Neurolobectomy induces sustained hypotension in male Wistar rats and normalizes blood pressure in male spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Physiol Rep · 2026
# Summary Research found that removal of the neurointermediate pituitary lobe—which eliminated vasopressin and oxytocin—produced sustained lowering of blood pressure in normotensive rats and normalized elevated blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. This study demonstrated that vasopressin plays a critical role in maintaining blood pressure regulation under both normal and hypertensive conditions, extending its recognized function beyond water balance alone.
Neuraminidase1 Activity Contributes to Vasopressin Receptor-mediated Augmentation of Water and Electrolyte Retention by the Kidney in Eln Haploinsufficient Mice.
bioRxiv · 2026
PLCβ-Mediated Depletion of PIP and ATP-Sensitive K Channels Are Involved in Arginine Vasopressin-Induced Facilitation of Neuronal Excitability and LTP in the Dentate Gyrus
eNeuro · 2022
Research in rat hippocampal slice preparations found that arginine vasopressin depolarized dentate gyrus granule cells via V1b receptor and PLCβ-mediated PIP2 depletion, depressing ATP-sensitive K+ channels and facilitating long-term potentiation at perforant path synapses, providing a cellular mechanism for vasopressin modulation of hippocampal-dependent learning and memory.
Tracing the impact of electrophysiological studies of magnocellular neurons.
Prog Neurobiol · 2026
# Summary Research found that electrophysiological studies of magnocellular neurons in the supraoptic nucleus fundamentally advanced understanding of vasopressin and oxytocin regulation by enabling researchers to directly link the electrical activity of these neuroendocrine cells to physiological function during specific physiological challenges. This study demonstrated that recording electrical activity from identified neurons provided mechanistic insights that complemented and extended knowledge gained from traditional endocrine studies of hormone secretion.
Vasopressin Side Effects & Safety Considerations
Research-use compound with limited human data. Evidence strength varies — see the Evidence section.
Reported (unverified — pending clinical review)
No established clinical contraindications
Common monitoring markers in research protocols
Under clinical review
Being verified by our medical team before we display monitoring guidance for this peptide.
Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health decisions. This information is educational only and does not constitute medical advice.
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VSVasopressin
Frequently Asked Questions — Vasopressin
Vasopressin (arginine vasopressin, AVP) is an endogenous hypothalamic nonapeptide approved in pharmaceutical form for central diabetes insipidus and as a vasopressor in septic shock; it acts through V1a receptors in the vasculature and brain and V2 receptors in the renal collecting duct to regulate blood pressure, water balance, and stress responsiveness. In the central nervous system, vasopressin functions as a neuromodulator involved in social recognition, stress-related memory encoding, and hippocampal synaptic plasticity, with V1a receptor activation in the dentate gyrus facilitating neuronal excitability and long-term potentiation.
memory consolidation, social memory, fluid retention, vasoconstriction.
Research on Vasopressin primarily documents effects related to memory consolidation and social memory and fluid retention and vasoconstriction. These are areas covered in preclinical and clinical literature — individual response varies and effects depend on context of use.
Reported contraindications and considerations for Vasopressin include hypertension, coronary artery disease, hyponatremia risk. 1 additional consideration are noted in the safety profile above. This is educational information only — consult a qualified healthcare professional before use.
For Vasopressin, its FDA status is FDA-approved, and it is available by prescription. Regulatory status reflects publicly available information and may change. This is not legal or medical advice.
3 providers in the directory currently offer Vasopressin.
Research in a randomized double-blind fMRI study found that intranasal arginine vasopressin increased conciliatory behavior in women and cooperation reciprocation in men during social interaction, with highly sexually differentiated neural responses in reward and social cognition regions, indicating that vasopressin effects on social cognition and behavior are strongly sex-dependent and require sex-stratified investigation.
How to get Vasopressin
Where to buy Vasopressin
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