Effect of lysine vasopressin in depressed patients on mood and 24-hour rhythm of growth hormone, cortisol, melatonin and prolactin.

Lysine-8-vasopressin (LVP) for 10 days and in doses up to 13.5 LVP units did not significantly alter the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores of 12 severely depressed, treatment-resistant patients who were evaluated in a double-blind crossover study. The 24-h rhythms of melatonin, cortisol, growth hormone and prolactin appeared remarkably stable over the course of repeated measurement. LVP administration did not affect these 24-h rhythms.