Influence of Food-intake on Desmopressin Oral Tablets and MELT-formulation

Overview

Alarm-treatment as well as Desmopressin, a synthetic analogue of human vasopressin, are considered the only evidence-based medicine (EBM) IA treatments in monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE). Desmopressin exists in three different formulations for ambulant use: nasal spray, tablet and lyophilisate (MELT) each with differences in bioavailability (spray 2%, tablet 0.2%, MELT 0.5%). There 's insufficient evidence to confirm the actually used bioequivalent doses ( 10µg spray = 120µg MELT= 0.2mg tablet). Although so frequently used, very few pharmacokinetic and -dynamic data on desmopressin are available for children. Due to prolonged half life, associated with waterintoxication,the nasal spray has a black box warning from the FDA and is no longer recommended . For some authors oral formulations appear to be a safer alternative. However, based on clinical experience of less response rate with oral formulations, lower biodisponibility is suspected. Adult research confirms low bioavailability of tablets but also show major influences by food-intake and changes in gastro-intestinal motility. To achieve maximum efficacy, recommendations are to take desmopressin tablet 1 hour before bedtime and 2 hours after meal: this is unrealistic in schoolaged children since there never is 3 hours between evening meal and bedtime. In 2005 a dose response study demonstrated superior pharmaco-kinetic and dynamic properties for desmopressin Lyophilisate MELT formula. Since these results implicate superior action of MELT, often a change to MELT is recommended if there is a suboptimal response with tablet: sublingual absorption would eliminate the influence of food-intake. However, for this statement there's no evidence, since these tests were all conducted in children in fasting condition. Only one clinical study demonstrates bioequivalence for MELT and tablet. Hypothesis is that desmopressin MELT formulation has a better bioavailability when administered together with meal due to its sublingual absorption.