The Role of Vasopressin in the Social Deficits of Autism

Exclusion Criteria

• •diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or psychotic disorder
• •regular nasal obstruction or nosebleeds
• •active and unstable medical problems (e.g., migraine; asthma; seizure disorder; anaphylaxis; epilepsy; diabetes; serious liver, renal, or cardiac pathology)
• •clinically significant abnormal vital signs or ECG reading
• •evidence of a genetic mutation know to cause ASD (e.g., Fragile X Syndrome) or metabolic disorder
• •significant hearing or vision impairments
• •drinks large volumes of water (e.g., habitual or psychogenic polydipsia)
• •pregnant or sexually active females not using a reliable method of contraception (urine pregnancy test will be conducted)
• •history of hypersensitivity to vasopressin, its analogs (e.g., Desmopressin), or compounding preservatives (e.g., chlorobutanol)
• •current use of any medications known to interact with vasopressin including: 1) carbamazepine (i.e., Tegretol); chlorpropamide; clofibrate; urea; fludrocortisone; tricyclic antidepressants (all of which may potentiate the antidiuretic effect of vasopressin when used concurrently); 2) demeclocycline; norepinephrine; lithium; heparin; alcohol (all of which may decrease the antidiuretic effect of vasopressin when used concurrently); 3) ganglionic blocking agents including benzohexonium, chlorisondamine, pentamine (all of which may produce a marked increase in sensitivity to the pressor effects of vasopressin)
• •prior or current use of vasopressin
• •abnormal chemistry result