ADH stands for antidiuretic hormone also known as vasopressin. ADH primarily acts in the kidney to resorb water. Vasopressin can also be administered to raise blood pressure. ADH is produced by the hypothalamus and released into the bloodstream by the pituitary gland. ADH levels increase in response to low blood volume. Thus in times of dehydration or hemorrhage, ADH works to increase the amount of water in the bloodstream by decreasing water loss and kidney. This increased water retention will also dilute the amount of sodium in the blood, causing sodium levels to decrease. On the other hand, the pituitary stops releasing ADH in response to decreased sodium levels in the blood, acting as a feedback mechanism.
Normal Ranges for ADH:
1 to 5 pg/mL
Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003702.htm
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/246650-clinical
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/diagnosis-of-polyuria-and-diabetes-insipidus
Lab Results Explained and Tracked
What does it mean if your ADH result is too high?
The causes of high ADH levels are collectively known as syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion or SIADH. In SIADH, the body cannot excrete sufficient amounts of water because ADH levels are chronically too high. As a result, sodium levels drop resulting in hyponatremia. If sodium levels drop slowly, there may be no or only subtle symptoms. If sodium levels drop rapidly, severe symptoms may occur, even death. Gradual hyponatremia causes slowed reaction times, cognitive slowness, and problems with balance and walking. Early symptoms of quickly dropping sodium include a lack of appetite, nausea, and malaise. This is followed by headache, muscle cramps, irritability, drowsiness, confusion, weakness, seizures, and coma. There are several causes of SIADH ranging from mental and neurological disorders, cancer, lung disease, genetic disorders and many medications.
Some specific causes of high ADH are:
- Stroke
- Psychosis
- Head trauma
- Brain tumor
- Surgery
- Lung tumor
- Porphyria
- Hereditary SIADH
- Old age
- Medications
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
What does it mean if your ADH result is too low?
Low levels of ADH may not be detectable on laboratory tests. In fact, some labs do not list a lower level of normal on their results. That said, people without the ability to produce ADH have a condition called central diabetes insipidus. In this condition, people cannot resorb water in the kidneys so they drink and urinate almost constantly. It is treated by administering ADH.
Some specific causes of low ADH are:
- Central diabetes insipidus
- Brain tumor
- Brain hemorrhage
- Primary polydipsia
Article Review & Sources
All our content is backed by peer-reviewed studies, academic research, and trusted medical sources. We're committed to accuracy and transparency — see our editorial policy for details.
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.