Vasopressin
Vasopressin is an FDA-approved antidiuretic hormone in the Vasopressin Receptor Agonist class. Vasopressin acts at V1a receptors on vascular smooth muscle, where Gq-coupled signalling raises intracellular calcium and produces vasoconstriction, and at renal V2 receptors, where it drives aquaporin-2 insertion into collecting duct membranes and promotes water reabsorption.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
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- Molecular Weight (MW)
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- Half-life
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- FDA status
- Approved
- Administration Route
- intravenous
- Frequency
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- Last updated
- Aug 30, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
Research summary
Endogenous nonapeptide hormone, available as a prescription intravenous product, approved to raise blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines.
Peptide Library's Vasopressin profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
Protocol
- Dosage Range
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- Frequency
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- Cycle
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- Administration Route
- intravenous
- Reconstitution Guide
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Not yet checked against primary sources
These figures are compiled from earlier reference material. They have not been verified against FDA labelling, registered trials or published literature, no citation is attached to them, and none of them is a recommended dose. Vasopressin is queued for dosage evidence review.
Compare reported doses across the whole libraryScience
Mechanism of Action
Vasopressin acts at V1a receptors on vascular smooth muscle, where Gq-coupled signalling raises intracellular calcium and produces vasoconstriction, and at renal V2 receptors, where it drives aquaporin-2 insertion into collecting duct membranes and promotes water reabsorption. Its vasoconstrictor action is preserved in acidotic and catecholamine-refractory states, which is the basis for its use in shock.
Studies
- Vasopressin and its analogues in patients with septic shock: holy Grail or unfulfilled promise?
- Arginine Vasopressin, Synaptic Plasticity, and Brain Networks
- Linking oxytocin and arginine vasopressin signaling abnormalities to social behavior impairments in Prader-Willi syndrome
- Pharmacological Chaperones as Potential Therapeutic Strategies for Misfolded Mutant Vasopressin Receptors
- Arginine Vasopressin and Copeptin in Perinatology
Regulatory & research status
Vasopressin is an FDA-approved product for specific labelled indications. Approval does not extend to the research contexts described on this page, and approved products are prescription medicines.
| FDA status | Approved |
|---|---|
| Research status | Approved product (see FDA status) |
| Availability | Prescription-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Unknown / Not Listed |
| Library classification | FDA-Approved |
Benefits
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Potential Side Effects
No side effects listed yet for this entry.
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
Vasopressin: frequently asked questions
What is Vasopressin?
Endogenous nonapeptide hormone, available as a prescription intravenous product, approved to raise blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines.
How does Vasopressin work?
Vasopressin acts at V1a receptors on vascular smooth muscle, where Gq-coupled signalling raises intracellular calcium and produces vasoconstriction, and at renal V2 receptors, where it drives aquaporin-2 insertion into collecting duct membranes and promotes water reabsorption. Its vasoconstrictor action is preserved in acidotic and catecholamine-refractory states, which is the basis for its use in shock.
Is Vasopressin FDA approved?
Yes. Vasopressin is approved by the FDA, and approved products are prescription medicines. Approval is always for specific indications studied in clinical trials, so an approved status does not mean the compound is approved for every use it is discussed for. Research-chemical material sold under the same name is not the approved product.
What peptides are similar to Vasopressin?
Compounds most often compared with Vasopressin include Desmopressin, Terlipressin, Angiotensin II and Cetrorelix. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- Vasopressin and its analogues in patients with septic shock: holy Grail or unfulfilled promise? — Crit Care, 2025External reference
- Arginine Vasopressin, Synaptic Plasticity, and Brain Networks — Curr Neuropharmacol, 2022External reference
- Linking oxytocin and arginine vasopressin signaling abnormalities to social behavior impairments in Prader-Willi syndrome — Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 2022External reference
- Pharmacological Chaperones as Potential Therapeutic Strategies for Misfolded Mutant Vasopressin Receptors — Handb Exp Pharmacol, 2018External reference
- Arginine Vasopressin and Copeptin in Perinatology — Front Pediatr, 2016External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Aug 30, 2026 · Version 1
This Vasopressin profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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