Consumer medicine information

MINIRIN® Tablets


Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary

The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about taking this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.


1. Why am I taking MINIRIN Tablets?

MINIRIN Tablets contains the active ingredient desmopressin acetate, which is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring substance produced in the brain called vasopressin. It is used for several conditions including primary nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) in patients over 6 years of age and cranial diabetes insipidus.

For more information, see Section 1. Why am I taking MINIRIN Tablets? in the full CMI.

2. What should I know before I take MINIRIN Tablets?

Do not take if you have ever had an allergic reaction to desmopressin acetate or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.

Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.

For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I take MINIRIN Tablets? in the full CMI.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Some medicines may interfere with MINIRIN Tablets and affect how it works.

A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.

4. How do I take MINIRIN Tablets?

  • Bedwetting (primary nocturnal enuresis) – the usual starting dose is one tablet (200 micrograms) at bedtime. If it does not resolve, the doctor may recommend increasing the dose up to two tablets (400 micrograms) at bedtime.
  • Cranial diabetes insipidus – doses of up to 200 micrograms three times daily are often used

More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I take MINIRIN Tablets? in the full CMI.

5. What should I know while taking MINIRIN Tablets?

Things you should do
  • Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking MINIRIN Tablets.
  • If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine. It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
Things you should not do
  • Do not take MINIRIN Tablets to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
  • Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
  • If you stop taking it suddenly, your condition may worsen.
Driving or using machines
  • This medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
Looking after your medicine
  • Keep MINIRIN Tablets in the original container to protect from moisture and light until it is time to take it.
  • Store it in a cool dry place, where the temperature stays below 25°C, away from moisture, heat or sunlight.

For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while taking MINIRIN Tablets? in the full CMI.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. Most of them are minor and temporary but some may need medical attention.

Tell your doctor if you experience any side effects, including headache, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, rapid weight gain, confusion or drowsiness. These are signs and symptoms of hyponatraemia (low sodium levels in the blood), a rare, but serious possible side effect of MINIRIN Tablets. For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.

MINIRIN® Tablets

Active ingredient(s): desmopressin acetate


Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about taking MINIRIN Tablets. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about taking MINIRIN Tablets.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I taking MINIRIN Tablets?
2. What should I know before I take MINIRIN Tablets?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I take MINIRIN Tablets?
5. What should I know while taking MINIRIN Tablets?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I taking MINIRIN Tablets?

MINIRIN Tablets contains the active ingredient desmopressin acetate. MINIRIN Tablets is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring substance produced in the brain called vasopressin.

MINIRIN Tablets has several different actions on the body including on the kidney to reduce the amount of urine produced. It is used for several different conditions including:

  • primary nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) in patients over 6 years of age who have a normal ability to concentrate urine and who have not responded to treatment with an enuresis alarm or in whom an enuresis alarm is contraindicated or inappropriate
  • cranial diabetes insipidus (large amounts of urine being produced day and night and constant thirst).

2. What should I know before I take MINIRIN Tablets?

Warnings

Do not take MINIRIN Tablets if:

  • you are allergic to desmopressin, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
  • you are in the habit of drinking large amounts of fluid
  • you have cardiac insufficiency (shortness of breath, swelling of feet or legs due to fluid build-up)
  • you have kidney disease where you pass little or no urine
  • you have low levels of sodium in your bloodstream
  • you have a disease which causes excessive release of anti-diuretic hormone
  • you are breast-feeding
  • you are a child under the age of 6 years. Safety and effectiveness in children younger than 6 years have not been established
  • the expiry date printed on the pack has passed
  • the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

Always check the ingredients to make sure you can take this medicine.

Check with your doctor if you:

  • have any other medical conditions especially the following:
    – a known allergy to anti-diuretic hormone
    – too little or too much fluid in the body
    – heart or blood vessel disease or any other disease for which you take diuretics
    – low blood pressure
    – cystic fibrosis or any other disease which causes fluid or salt imbalance
    – any disease of the blood clotting cells (platelets)
    – serious problems with bladder function or with passing urine
    – galactose intolerance
    – raised pressure within your head (increased intracranial pressure)
  • take any medicines for any other condition

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

MINIRIN Tablets should only be used in a pregnant woman if necessary. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

It is recommended that you do not breastfeed while you are taking MINIRIN Tablets.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with MINIRIN Tablets and affect how it works.

Medicines that may increase the effect of MINIRIN Tablets include:

  • loperamide, a medicine used to stop diarrhoea
  • medications which are known to release antidiuretic hormone (e.g. tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, chlorpromazine or carbamazepine) or some medications which are known to treat high blood sugar (diabetes), as they can increase the risk of fluid buildup in the body
  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), medicines used to relieve pain and inflammation.
    NSAIDs may induce water retention/low sodium levels in the blood (hyponatraemia).

These medicines may affect how well may MINIRIN Tablets works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.

Food intake may reduce the effect of MINIRIN Tablets

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect MINIRIN Tablets.

4. How do I take MINIRIN Tablets?

How much to take

Some of the details for MINIRIN Tablets will vary depending on the purpose for which it is used.

Bedwetting (primary nocturnal enuresis)

  • the usual starting dose is one tablet (200 micrograms) at bedtime. If this dose does not adequately resolve the bedwetting, your doctor may recommend that you increase the dose up to two tablets (400 micrograms) at bedtime.
  • if after four weeks of MINIRIN Tablet treatment there has been no resolution of the bedwetting, treatment should be stopped.
  • fluid intake should be limited in preparation for your dose of MINIRIN Tablets (see ‘Things to be careful of’).

Cranial diabetes insipidus

  • the dose you need will be adjusted to suit your personal requirements
  • doses of up to 200 micrograms three times daily are often used
  • your doctor will advise you about the dose that is most suitable for you.

Follow the instructions provided and take MINIRIN Tablets until your doctor tells you to stop.

When to take MINIRIN Tablets

Bedwetting (primary nocturnal enuresis)

  • take MINIRIN Tablets at bedtime.

Cranial diabetes insipidus

  • take MINIRIN Tablets at times specified by your doctor.

How long to take MINIRIN Tablets

Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.

This medicine helps to control your condition but does not cure it. It is important to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well.

Bedwetting (primary nocturnal enuresis)

  • MINIRIN Tablets for bedwetting is usually taken for periods up to 3 months.
  • After this period, you should have at least one week without MINIRIN Tablets to check if your bedwetting has stopped.

Cranial diabetes insipidus

  • Your doctor will advise you.

If you forget to take MINIRIN Tablets

MINIRIN Tablets should be used regularly at the same time each day.

Bedwetting (primary nocturnal enuresis)

If you miss your dose at the usual time, skip the missed dose and take the next dose when you are meant to.

Cranial diabetes insipidus

Take the next dose as soon as you remember. You will then have to adjust the time of the following dose.

When this is done, go back to taking your medicine as you would normally. You should talk to your doctor about this situation.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much MINIRIN Tablets

If you think that you have taken too much MINIRIN Tablets, you may need urgent medical attention.

You should immediately:

  • phone the Poisons Information Centre
    (by calling 13 11 26), or
  • contact your doctor, or
  • go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

Symptoms of an overdose may include confusion, drowsiness, continuing headache, nausea or vomiting, rapid weight gain due to a buildup of water in the body, or, in severe cases, convulsions.

5. What should I know while taking MINIRIN Tablets?

Things you should do

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind any doctor, dentist, or pharmacist you visit that you are taking MINIRIN Tablets.

If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine.

It may affect other medicines used during surgery.

If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.

If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.

It may interfere with the results of some tests.

Keep all your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked.

Your doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.

Things you should not do

  • Do not take MINIRIN Tablets to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
  • Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
  • Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
  • If you stop taking it suddenly, your condition may worsen.

Things to be careful of

Bedwetting (primary nocturnal enuresis)

  • You must avoid drinking fluids from one hour before taking MINIRIN Tablets until the next morning (at least eight hours).
  • Over this period, drink no more than a few sips of water or other fluids. This is because a high fluid intake during this period can increase the chance that you will feel unwell (e.g. headache, nausea, dizziness).
  • Remember to drink normally throughout the day.
  • This is very important to prevent dehydration during daytime.

Cranial diabetes insipidus

  • Carefully follow your doctor’s instruction about fluid intake.
  • It is very important to keep your body water in balance.

Driving or using machines

This medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.

Looking after your medicine

Keep MINIRIN Tablets in the original container to protect from moisture and light until it is time to take it.

If you take the tablets out of the bottle they will not keep well.

Keep the container tightly closed and do not remove the desiccant capsule from the cap.

Store it in a cool dry place, where the temperature stays below 25°C, away from moisture, heat or sunlight.

For example, do not store it:

  • in the bathroom or near a sink, or
  • in the car or on window sills.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to take this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not take this medicine after the expiry date. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

If you are over 65 years of age, commencing MINIRIN Tablet treatment is not recommended.

The elderly may be at an increased risk of some side effects.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Side effects

Side effects What to do
Hyponatraemia or low sodium levels in the blood may have the following signs or symptoms:

  • headache
  • stomach pain
  • nausea.

Hyponatraemia can potentially become a serious side effect, see below.
Uncommon side effects (affect less than 1 in 100 users):

  • fatigue
  • diarrhoea.

Rare side effects (affect less than 1 in 1000 users):

  • sleepiness

Side effects (unknown frequency):

  • sweating
  • nosebleed.
These side effects are not usually serious but can become serious.
Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects What to do
  • high blood pressure
  • bladder problems
  • emotional or behavioural disturbances
  • hallucinations.

*Hypersensitivity or allergic reactions (uncommon side effects – affect less than 1 in 100 users):

  • shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
  • swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
  • rash, itching or hives on the skin.

*Hyponatraemia or low sodium levels in the blood may have the following serious signs or symptoms:

  • confusion or drowsiness
  • continuing headache
  • nausea or vomiting
  • rapid weight gain, which may be due to a build-up of water in the body
  • convulsions, fitting and blackouts (including coma)

*These side effects are rare

Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking MINIRIN Tablets.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

What MINIRIN Tablets contains

Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
desmopressin acetate
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
  • povidone
  • lactose monohydrate
  • potato starch
  • magnesium stearate
Potential allergens contains sugars as lactose

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What MINIRIN Tablets looks like

MINIRIN Tablets are supplied in bottles of 30 tablets.

MINIRIN Tablets 200 micrograms are white, round and convex tablets with a single score and marked ‘0.2’ on one side. (AUST R 93731).

Who distributes MINIRIN Tablets

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
Suite 2, Level 1, Building 1
20 Bridge Street
Pymble, NSW 2073
Toll free: 1800 337 746

This leaflet was prepared in August 2023.

AU-MN-2300002_v.2.0

Published by MIMS October 2023