Vasopressin receptor antagonist

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Vasopressin receptor antagonists (VRAs) are a group of pharmaceutical drugs that are used to treat various medical conditions such as hyponatremia, heart failure, and polycystic kidney disease. They work by blocking the action of vasopressin, a hormone that regulates the body's water balance.

Mechanism of action[edit | edit source]

VRAs work by blocking the vasopressin receptor, which is found in the kidney and other parts of the body. Vasopressin, also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH), binds to these receptors and triggers a series of reactions that help the body retain water. By blocking these receptors, VRAs prevent vasopressin from acting, leading to increased water excretion and decreased water retention.

Types of VRAs[edit | edit source]

There are three types of vasopressin receptors: V1a, V1b, and V2. Different VRAs target different receptors:

Examples of VRAs[edit | edit source]

Some examples of VRAs include:

  • Conivaptan is a dual V1a and V2 receptor antagonist used to treat hyponatremia.
  • Tolvaptan is a V2 receptor antagonist used to treat hyponatremia and polycystic kidney disease.
  • Lixivaptan is a V2 receptor antagonist that is currently under investigation for the treatment of hyponatremia.

Side effects[edit | edit source]

Like all drugs, VRAs can have side effects. These can include dry mouth, thirst, nausea, abdominal pain, and electrolyte imbalance. It is important for patients to discuss these potential side effects with their healthcare provider before starting treatment with a VRA.

See also[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit source]

Latest articles - Vasopressin receptor antagonist

PubMed
Clinical trials
UpToDate

AI tools[edit source]

Generative AI tools and links to learn more on Vasopressin receptor antagonist: ChatGPT - Bing Chat - Google Gemini. (caution advised).


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD