Tolvaptan

FDA label, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., oral, effective 2026-05-07. Full label on DailyMed

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Quoted from the FDA label. Product labels differ by manufacturer and change over time; confirm against the label for the product you are using.

Boxed warning

WARNING: (A) INITIATE AND RE-INITIATE IN A HOSPITAL AND MONITOR SERUM SODIUM (B) NOT FOR USE FOR AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE (ADPKD) WARNING: (A) INITIATE AND RE-INITIATE IN A HOSPITAL AND MONITOR SERUM SODIUM (B) NOT FOR USE FOR AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE (ADPKD) See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. (A) Initiate and re-initiate in a hospital and monitor serum sodium SAMSCA should be initiated and re-initiated in patients only in a hospital where serum sodium can be monitored closely.

Too rapid correction of hyponatremia (e.g., >12 mEq/L/24 hours) can cause osmotic demyelination resulting in dysarthria, mutism, dysphagia, lethargy, affective changes, spastic quadriparesis, seizures, coma and death. In susceptible patients, including those with severe malnutrition, alcoholism or advanced liver disease, slower rates of correction may be advisable.

(B) Not for use for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) Because of the risk of hepatotoxicity, tolvaptan should not be used for ADPKD outside of the FDA-approved REMS (4) (A) Initiate and re-initiate in a hospital and monitor serum sodium SAMSCA should be initiated and re-initiated in patients only in a hospital where serum sodium can be monitored closely. Too rapid correction of hyponatremia (e.g., >12 mEq/L/24 hours) can cause osmotic demyelination resulting in dysarthria, mutism, dysphagia, lethargy, affective changes, spastic quadriparesis, seizures, coma and death.

In susceptible patients, including those with severe malnutrition, alcoholism or advanced liver disease, slower rates of correction may be advisable. (B) Not for use for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) Because of the risk of hepatotoxicity, tolvaptan should not be used for ADPKD outside of the FDA-approved REMS [see Contraindications (4) ].

Handling and access

REMS

Required
Tolvaptan for ADPKD Shared System REMSProgram website

Stated in the label quoted on this page.

  • Restricted distribution (ETASU)
  • Prescriber certification or enrollment
  • Pharmacy certification
  • Patient enrollment
  • Medication Guide
Tolvaptan tablets REMSProgram website

Stated in 1 other label (Tolvaptan); not in the label quoted here.

  • Restricted distribution (ETASU)
  • Prescriber certification or enrollment
  • Pharmacy certification
  • Patient enrollment
  • Medication Guide
Source: FDA prescribing information (openFDA), checked Nov 4, 2026Confirm on REMS@FDAAbout REMS

Vasopressin V2 Receptor Antagonist

Dosing in kidney impairment

Use in Patients with Renal Impairment No dose adjustment is necessary based on renal function. There are no clinical trial data in patients with CrCl <10 mL/min, and, because drug effects on serum sodium levels are likely lost at very low levels of renal function, use in patients with a CrCl <10 mL/min is not recommended.

No benefit can be expected in patients who are anuric [see Contraindications and Clinical Pharmacology ] .

Dosing in liver impairment

Use in Patients with Hepatic Impairment Moderate and severe hepatic impairment do not affect exposure to tolvaptan to a clinically relevant extent. Avoid use of tolvaptan in patients with underlying liver disease.

Drug interactions

Check tolvaptan against a medication list
Label text (5 paragraphs)

Avoid concomitant use with: Moderate CYP3A inhibitors ( 7.1 ) Strong CYP3A inducers ( 7.1 ) V 2 -receptor antagonists ( 7.3 ) Monitor serum potassium during concomitant therapy with ( 7.2 ): Angiotensin receptor blockers Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors Potassium sparing diuretics

7.1 CYP3A Inhibitors and Inducers Strong CYP3A Inhibitors Tolvaptan's AUC was 5.4 times as large and C max was 3.5 times as large after co-administration of tolvaptan and 200 mg ketoconazole [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Larger doses of the strong CYP3A inhibitor would be expected to produce larger increases in tolvaptan exposure. Concomitant use of tolvaptan with strong CYP3A inhibitors is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4) ] . Moderate CYP3A Inhibitors A substantial increase in the exposure to tolvaptan would be expected when SAMSCA is co-administered with moderate CYP3A inhibitors.

Avoid co-administration of SAMSCA with moderate CYP3A inhibitors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ]. Patients should avoid grapefruit juice beverages while taking SAMSCA [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Strong CYP3A Inducers Co-administration of SAMSCA with strong CYP3A inducers reduces exposure to SAMSCA [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Avoid concomitant use of SAMSCA with strong CYP3A inducers.

7.2 Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Potassium Sparing Diuretics Although specific interaction studies were not performed, in clinical studies, tolvaptan was used concomitantly with beta-blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and potassium sparing diuretics. Adverse reactions of hyperkalemia were approximately 1 to 2% higher when tolvaptan was administered with angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and potassium sparing diuretics compared to administration of these medications with placebo. Serum potassium levels should be monitored during concomitant drug therapy.

7.3 V 2 -Receptor Agonist As a V 2 -receptor antagonist, tolvaptan may interfere with the V 2 -agonist activity of desmopressin (dDAVP). Avoid concomitant use of SAMSCA with a V 2 -agonist.

Contraindications

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS SAMSCA is contraindicated in the following conditions: Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) outside of FDA-approved REMS [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Unable to sense or respond to thirst Hypovolemic hyponatremia Taking strong CYP3A inhibitors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Anuria Hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylactic shock, rash generalized) to tolvaptan or any components of the product [see Adverse Reactions (6) ] Use in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) outside of FDA-approved REMS ( 4 ) Patients who are unable to respond appropriately to thirst ( 4 ) Hypovolemic hyponatremia ( 4 ) Concomitant use of strong CYP3A inhibitors ( 4 ) Anuria ( 4 ) Hypersensitivity ( 4 )

Safety data

Reported adverse events (FAERS)

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Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System via openFDA

Liver injury (LiverTox)

C

Likelihood score C: Probable rare cause of clinically apparent liver injury.

Tolvaptan is a vasopressin 2 receptor antagonist which is used for short term treatment of severe hyponatremia in patients with heart failure, cirrhosis or syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). It has been used experimentally to prevention progression of disease in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Tolvaptan recently has been implicated in causing serum aminotransferase elevations as well as clinically apparent acute liver injury during long term use.

ABCDEA: well known cause; E: unlikely cause. [HD]: high doses only.

Source: LiverTox: Tolvaptan (NIDDK, public domain)Chapter updated Sep 2, 2020

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Available data with SAMSCA use in pregnant women are insufficient to determine if there is a drug-associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes. Tolvaptan did not cause any developmental toxicity in rats or in rabbits at exposures approximately 2.8 and 0.8 times, respectively, the exposure in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 60 mg once daily. However, effects on embryo-fetal development occurred in both species at doses causing significant maternally toxic doses. In rats, reduced fetal weights and delayed fetal ossification occurred at 11 times the exposure in CHF patients, based on AUC.

In rabbits, increased abortions, embryo-fetal death, fetal microphthalmia, open eyelids, cleft palate, brachymelia and skeletal malformations occurred at approximately 1.6 times the exposure in CHF patients (see Data ). The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in the U.S. general population is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies, respectively.

Data Animal Data Oral administration of tolvaptan during the period of organogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rats produced no evidence of teratogenesis at doses up to 100 mg/kg/day. Delayed ossification was seen at 1000 mg/kg, which is approximately 11 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD of 60 mg (AUC 24h 10271 ng*h/mL). The fetal effects are likely secondary to maternal toxicity (decreased food intake and low body weights). In a prenatal and postnatal study in rats, tolvaptan had no effect on physical development, reflex function, learning ability or reproductive performance at doses up to 1000 mg/kg/day (11 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD of 60 mg).

In rabbits, teratogenicity (microphthalmia, embryo-fetal mortality, cleft palate, brachymelia and skeletal malformations) was observed in rabbits at 1000 mg/kg (approximately 1.6 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD of 60 mg dose). This dose also caused maternal toxicity (lower body weight gains and food consumption).

For breastfeeding, also see LactMed (National Library of Medicine), which summarizes milk levels and infant effects.

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