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Syndrome of Inappropriate Secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH)

ByJames L. Lewis III, MD, Brookwood Baptist Health and Saint Vincent’s Ascension Health, Birmingham
Reviewed/Revised Modified Jun 2025
v28394707
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The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone develops when too much antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) is released by the pituitary gland under certain inappropriate conditions, causing the body to retain fluid and lower the level of sodium in the blood by dilution.

Topic Resources

(See also Overview of Electrolytes and Overview of Sodium's Role in the Body.)

Vasopressin (also called antidiuretic hormone [ADH]) helps regulate the amount of water in the body by controlling how much water is excreted by the kidneys. Vasopressin decreases water excretion by the kidneys. As a result, more water is retained in the body, which dilutes the level of sodium in the body. A low level of sodium in the blood is called hyponatremia.

The pituitary gland appropriately produces and releases vasopressin when the blood volume (amount of fluid in the blood vessels) or blood pressure goes down or when levels of electrolytes (such as sodium) become too high.

Secretion of vasopressin is termed inappropriate if it occurs when:

When vasopressin is released in these situations, the body retains too much fluid, and the sodium level in blood decreases.

Causes of SIADH

Many conditions increase the risk of developing SIADH. SIADH may result when vasopressin is produced outside the pituitary gland, as occurs in some lung and other cancers. SIADH is common among older adults and is fairly common among people who are hospitalized.

SIADH has a long list of possible causes that typically require additional tests to uncover.

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Symptoms of SIADH

Symptoms of SIADH tend to be those related to the low sodium level in blood (hyponatremia) that accompanies it. Symptoms include sluggishness, nausea, muscle weakness, a feeling of imbalance, and confusion. Some people have a history of falls.

Diagnosis of SIADH

  • Blood and urine tests

Doctors suspect SIADH in people with hyponatremia that cannot be explained by other factors, such as pain, stress, strenuous exercise, and certain disorders of the heart, thyroid gland, kidneys, or adrenal glands that can decrease blood volume and appropriately stimulate the release of vasopressin from the pituitary.

Blood and urine tests are done to measure the sodium and potassium levels and to determine how concentrated the blood and urine are (osmolality).

Once SIADH is diagnosed, doctors try to identify the possible causes of excess vasopressin (such as pain, stress, medications, or cancer) and may do other blood and imaging tests to pinpoint them.

Treatment of SIADH

  • Restriction of fluid intake

Doctors restrict fluid intake and treat the cause if possible. People with SIADH need treatment of hyponatremia for the long term.

Intravenous fluids, including fluids containing very high concentrations of sodium (hypertonic saline), are sometimes given. Such treatments must be given carefully to avoid rapid increases in the sodium level.

If the sodium level in blood continues to decrease or does not increase despite restriction of fluid intake, doctors may prescribe medications such as demeclocycline or If the sodium level in blood continues to decrease or does not increase despite restriction of fluid intake, doctors may prescribe medications such as demeclocycline orurea,which decrease the effect of vasopressin on the kidneys, or medications such as conivaptan and tolvaptan, which block on the kidneys, or medications such as conivaptan and tolvaptan, which blockvasopressin receptors and prevent the kidneys from responding to vasopressin.

Sodium chloride in the form of salt tablets can be given to treat persistent mild to moderate hyponatremia and are usually used along with fluid restriction and diuretics. Sodium chloride in the form of salt tablets can be given to treat persistent mild to moderate hyponatremia and are usually used along with fluid restriction and diuretics.

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