Health Canada is warning that a nasal spray used to treat bedwetting in children carries a previously unknown risk of a serious, potentially life-threatening effect from increased water retention and decreased sodium levels in the blood.

It said parents should not use nasal spray formulations of desmopressin, including Apotex Inc.s' Apo-Desmopressin Spray, to treat primary nocturnal enuresis, the medical term for nighttime bedwetting.

New safety information shows the sprays are associated with a higher risk of a side-effect known as hyponatremia than oral tablets. Hyponatremia is caused by increased water retention and decreased blood sodium levels, and can lead to seizures or death if not treated.

Warning

Report an adverse reaction