Vasopressin dosage in published studies and labels

These are the doses used for Vasopressin in FDA labelling and published clinical studies, reported as each source states them, one row per regimen. They describe what was studied or approved for a specific population. They are not a recommendation, and none of them is a dose for any individual.

Research and educational reference only. This is not medical advice, and no figure on this page is a dosing recommendation.

Last checked against primary sources: November 7, 2026

Studied regimens and sources

Vasopressin has an FDA-approved human dosage only as a hospital infusion to raise blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who stay hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines. The Vasostrict label starts at 0.03 units a minute after heart surgery and 0.01 units a minute in septic shock, raised by 0.005 units a minute every 10–15 minutes to a target blood pressure, with limited data above 0.1 and 0.07 units a minute.

FDA Approved

Dosage evidence summary for Vasopressin
Human dosing established	Yes
Route	Intravenous
Frequency	Continuous intravenous infusion
Duration studied	Until blood pressure holds, then tapered
Titration	Raised by 0.005 units/minute every 10–15 minutes to the target blood pressure; once it has held for 8 hours without catecholamines, tapered by 0.005 units/minute every hour.
Evidence level	FDA Approved
Last reviewed	2026-11-07

Research-reported dosing

Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.

Research-reported dosing for Vasopressin, one row per studied regimen
Study / context	Population	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration	Outcome studied	Source
FDA label — Vasostrict, vasodilatory shockFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information	Adults with vasodilatory shock (post-cardiotomy or septic) who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines	Post-cardiotomy shock: start 0.03 units/minute, range 0.03–0.1. Septic shock: start 0.01 units/minute, range 0.01–0.07	Intravenous infusion, diluted	Continuous	Titrated, then tapered	Increased blood pressure	VASOSTRICT (vasopressin injection) — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed

Where sources disagree

Vasopressin is dosed in units, not milligrams, and only as a monitored intravenous infusion in intensive care. The label warns that it can worsen cardiac function and that reversible diabetes insipidus can follow stopping it; its most common adverse reactions include slow or irregular heart rhythm, hyponatremia and reduced blood flow to the heart, gut, skin and fingers.
Safety and effectiveness in children with vasodilatory shock have not been established, according to the label.