Desmopressin - any experiences?

[Maizzee]

Dr has prescribed desmopressin for DS8, who is a bed wetter. Not as an ongoing solution, just as a temporary thing for sleepovers, holidays etc. DS was very distressed at the thought of not being able to go to an overnight trip organised by school, coming up in the autumn. DH is against trying it, as he doesn't think it's a solution, the Dr was keen to see if it works, as am I.

Any experiences? How did it work for you? I'm not after a permanent solution right now as I think he'll grow out of it, but the thought of a full week's sleep on holiday in a few weeks is very appealing to me!

We tried it a few years ago on my DS who was 10 at the time, it worked at home but didn't work for us when he had a sleepover but I think thats because he was just too anxious staying away from home.
Maybe you could consider pairing it with dry nights just to see how it goes, or if he resists rhe dry nights you can get some absorbent boxer shorts to sleep in...My son hated these but I think they helped in the long run, luckily he stopped wetting when he started puberty.
Have a look on Eric website for further advice.

Why would they not be able to go on a school trip? My DS is almost 7 and his teacher said not to worry about it as they have children who still wet at night and just deal with it. He does still wear pull ups.

My son was prescribed desmopressin at the age of 7. He took it for a few months and then was able to stop. It completely solved the bedwetting problem. In fact after stopping taking it he only had one minor bedwetting when he was ill - otherwise it has never happened again and he's now 16.

I don't understand why people have a problem with it. It's only replacing a hormone the body normally produces, but in these children isn't being produced enough. Some children get prescribed alarms, but we did the drink/bedwetting diary for two weeks and the nurse decided that desmopressin was for DS and she was right.

It was such a relief to have the problem sorted.

I used it when I was young (going back about 25 years ago now - as an aside I feel so old!). Was great for sleepovers and school trips, I never would have gone on them if I hadn't had it. Why is your husband against it? Do you think you can ask him to put himself in his son's shoes?

What does your husband think the solution is? Yes, some children are still wetting the bed at 7/8 or older, but most aren't and it is embarrasing for them and they don't want to be the child in pull-ups.

I would listen to the doctor, who has presumably prescribed it before, and give it a try.

@FayeFayeFayeFayeFaye

Why would they not be able to go on a school trip? My DS is almost 7 and his teacher said not to worry about it as they have children who still wet at night and just deal with it. He does still wear pull ups.

He did go on an overnight school trip recently. We told the teacher and she made sure everything was OK, and he wore pull-ups, but he didn't feel comfortable and said he'd rather not have gone. He did want to go, but he found it difficult.

@KeepingTheWormsQuiet

What does your husband think the solution is? Yes, some children are still wetting the bed at 7/8 or older, but most aren't and it is embarrasing for them and they don't want to be the child in pull-ups.

I would listen to the doctor, who has presumably prescribed it before, and give it a try.

I don't know why DH is against it. He's generally a bit anti-medication (he won't ever take painkillers for example) but this is for a child. His solution is to just wait, and it'll right itself eventually. But in the meantime, it's making life difficult. I have sleep problems, and if I'm woken up to change the sheets (we tend to take it in turns, but as I work p/t, it more often falls to me) I cannot get back to sleep. So for my health as well, I want to give this a try.

DS wants to try it, so we're starting this evening. Wish us luck!

@AllTeaAllShade

We tried it a few years ago on my DS who was 10 at the time, it worked at home but didn't work for us when he had a sleepover but I think thats because he was just too anxious staying away from home. Maybe you could consider pairing it with dry nights just to see how it goes, or if he resists rhe dry nights you can get some absorbent boxer shorts to sleep in...My son hated these but I think they helped in the long run, luckily he stopped wetting when he started puberty. Have a look on Eric website for further advice.

Never heard of absorbent boxer shorts, must have a look for those.

@KeepingTheWormsQuiet

My son was prescribed desmopressin at the age of 7. He took it for a few months and then was able to stop. It completely solved the bedwetting problem. In fact after stopping taking it he only had one minor bedwetting when he was ill - otherwise it has never happened again and he's now 16.

I don't understand why people have a problem with it. It's only replacing a hormone the body normally produces, but in these children isn't being produced enough. Some children get prescribed alarms, but we did the drink/bedwetting diary for two weeks and the nurse decided that desmopressin was for DS and she was right.

It was such a relief to have the problem sorted.

That's the kind of outcome I hope we'll get. At the moment we've only been prescribed a small amount to cover an upcoming holiday and a couple of weekends away, but the doctor will prescribe more if we'd like to continue.

Just another one to say that it worked for my son who is now 21.

Only used it for an few months and then he never wet the bed again.