INN monograph
Ornipressin
Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class) · POM
Source-linked · Updated 03 Aug 2026 · Source: Local active-ingredient clinical extract; PubChem; Professional class pharmacology (Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class))
Kenya market
Wholesale / list prices where loaded
Risk first
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients.
- Additional absolute contraindications are indication- and product-specific — consult SmPC.
Precautions
- Some absorption may occur from local application leading to systemic vasoconstriction.
- A rise in blood pressure may occur in some patients.
- Caution is therefore indicated in conditions in which a rise in blood pressure would be medically undesirable.
- Anginal symptoms may be precipitated in patients with ischaemic heart disease.
Point of care
Dosing
Adult
Usually 5 IU is diluted in 30 mL of physio- logical saline [max. dose for tissue infiltration is 5 IU]. Gynaecological surgery and laparoto- mies, more dilute solutions, e.g. 5 IU in 50 or 60 mL physiological saline are used. For ENT surgery more concentrated solutions, 5 IU in 20 mL physiological saline may be used.
Paediatric
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Renal
Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Hepatic
Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.
Safety
Drug interactions
- Professional use: confirm indication, dose, duration, monitoring and patient counselling points against current Kenya STG / EML and the product SmPC.
- Document allergy status and key interactions.
Safety
Adverse effects
- It is generally well tolerated
- facial or general pallor
- a rise (or occasionally fall) in blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, anginal pain, increased perspiration and increased bowel motility.
Use
Indications
- To induce ischaemia and haemostasis at the site of an operation.
- It may be used with general anaesthetics which are usually not compatible with adrenaline
- e.g. halothane, without fear of precipitating cardiac arrhythmias.
Pharmacology
Mode of action
It is a synthetic polypeptide with a potent and specific constrictor effect on micro- circulation and veins which is equal to, if not greater than, that of vasopressin; it also has antidiuretic activity, but this is weak by compari- son with vasopressin.
Full mechanism text
It is a synthetic polypeptide with a potent and specific constrictor effect on micro- circulation and veins which is equal to, if not greater than, that of vasopressin; it also has antidiuretic activity, but this is weak by compari- son with vasopressin. Topical application or infiltration leads within 10 minutes to local ischaemia which usually lasts for 1 to 2 hours without causing reactive hyperaemia.
ADME
Pharmacokinetics & PD
| Onset | Product-specific |
|---|---|
| Duration | Product-specific |
| Route | See product SmPC |
| Elimination | are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT |
| Half-life | when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC. |
Full PK/PD text
Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT metabolism, renal clearance and half-life when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC.
Kenya
Brands & prices
| Brand | Company | Pack | KES |
|---|---|---|---|
| No brands linked yet. | |||
Special populations
Pregnancy & lactation
Pregnancy
Use only if potential benefit justifies potential risk; prefer agents with better reproductive data when alternatives exist.
Lactation
Assess infant risk vs benefit of maternal therapy; prefer agents with lactation data.
Diet
Food & alcohol
- Food
- Food
Trust
Sources & disclaimer
Source: Local active-ingredient clinical extract; PubChem; Professional class pharmacology (Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class))
Clinical review date not recorded.
Decision support only — not a substitute for clinical judgment, product SmPC, or Kenya STG/EML.