How is diabetes insipidus treated?

How is diabetes insipidus treated?

In some cases, diabetes insipidus cannot be cured, but it can be managed with medications.

Desmopressin, a medication that works like ADH, is often used to treat central diabetes insipidus. Desmopressin can be given as an injection (shot), in a pill, or in a nasal spray. It is also sometimes used to treat gestational diabetes insipidus.

Treatment for nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is more complicated and sometimes involves a combination of approaches. If the condition is caused by medication, sometimes it’s treated by changing the medication. Anti-inflammatory drugs, water pills, and pain medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen can also help. It might take a while to find the right combination for a patient.

Treatments for dipsogenic diabetes insipidus have been less effective. If it is caused by an underlying condition such as mental illness, treatment might be directed at that cause. Some of the same treatments used for other types of diabetes insipidus might also be used.