Antihypertensive Drugs
Dr Khaled M Hasan, MD,MSc, Mphil, PhD
      Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology
              University of London, UK
                  Dr Khaled M Hasan
      -
Dr Khaled M Hasan
                     I. OVERVIEW
• Hypertension (HT) is defined as either a sustained systolic
  blood pressure (SBP) of greater than 140 mm Hg or a
  sustained diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of greater than 90
  mm Hg.
• Hypertension results from increased peripheral vascular
  smooth muscle tone, which leads to increased arteriolar
  resistance and reduced capacitance of the venous system.
• Hypertension is common disorder, affecting 15% of the
  population of the USA (60 million). Although many of these
  individuals have no symptoms, chronic HT- either systolic
  or diastolic-can lead to congestive heart failure, myocardial
  infarction, renal damage, and cerebrovascular accidents.
                           Dr Khaled M Hasan
• The incidence of morbidity and mortality significantly decreases
  when hypertension is diagnosed early and is properly treated.
•   Classification of  hypertension
•   Normal (SBP/DBP, <120/<80)
•   Prehypertension (SBP/DBP, 120-139/80-89)
•   Stage 1 hypertension (SBP/DBP, 140-159/90-99)
•   Stage 2 hypertension (SBP/DBP ≥ 160/≥100)
                             Dr Khaled M Hasan
       II. ETIOLOGY OF HYPERTENSION
• Although hypertension may occur secondary to other
  disease processes, more than 90% of patients have
  essential hypertension, a disorder of unknown origin
  affecting the blood pressure regulating mechanism. A
  family history of hypertension increases the likelihood that
   an individual will develop hypertensive disease.
• Essential hypertension is four-fold more frequent among
  blacks than among whites, and it occurs more often among
  middle-aged males than among middle-aged females.
• Environmental factors, such as a stressful lifestyle, high
  dietary intake of sodium, obesity, and smoking, all further
  predispose an individual to the occurrence of hypertension.
                            Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M Hasan
Fig. 13.116 Digital subtraction angiography, showing
typical unilateral atheromatous renal artery stenosis
        with post-stenotic dilatation (Kumar).
                      Dr Khaled M Hasan
     III. Mechanisms for Controlling Blood Pressure
• Arterial blood pressure is regulated within a narrow range to
  provide adequate perfusion of the tissues without causing damage
  to the vascular system, particularly the arterial intima.
• Arterial blood pressure is directly proportional to the product of
  the cardiac output and the peripheral vascular resistance.
                              Dr Khaled M Hasan
    III. Mechanisms for Controlling Blood Pressure
• In both normal and hypertensive individuals, cardiac output and
   peripheral resistance are controlled mainly by two overlapping
  control mechanisms:
• Baroreflexes, which are mediated by the sympathetic nervous
  system
• Reninangiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)
• Most antihypertensive drugs lower blood pressure by reducing
  cardiac output and/or decreasing peripheral resistance.
                             Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M Hasan
       A. Baroreceptors and the sympathetic nervous system
• Baroreflexes involving the sympathetic nervous system are
  responsible for the rapid, moment-to-moment regulation of blood
  pressure.
• A fall in blood pressure causes pressure-sensitive neurons
  (baroreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid sinuses) to send
   fewer impulses to cardiovascular centers in the spinal cord.
• This prompts a reflex response of increased sympathetic and
  decreased parasympathetic output to the heart and vasculature,
  resulting in vasoconstriction and increased cardiac output.
• These changes result in a compensatory rise in blood pressure
  (Fig).
                              Dr Khaled M Hasan
      B. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)
• Kidney provides for long-term control of blood pressure
  by altering blood volume.
• Baroreceptors in kidney respond to reduced arterial
  pressure (and to sympathetic stimulation of
  adrenoceptors) by releasing the enzyme renin (Fig).
• This peptidase converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin
  I, which is converted in turn to angiotensin II in presence
  of (ACE). Angiotensin II is the body's most potent
  circulating vasoconstrictor, causing an increase in blood
  pressure. Furthermore, angiotensin II stimulates
  aldosterone secretion, leading to increased renal sodium
  reabsorption and increased blood volume, which
  contribute to a further increase in blood pressure.
                          Dr Khaled M Hasan
                       TREATMENT STRATEGIES
•     The goal of antihypertensive therapy is to reduce
  cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality.
• Pre hypertension emphasizes need for decreasing BP in the
  general population by education and adoption of blood pressure-
  lowering behaviors.
• Mild hypertension can often be controlled with a single drug.
  Current treatment recommendations are to initiate therapy with
  a thiazide diuretic unless there are compelling reasons to employ
   other drug classes (Fig).
• If BP is inadequately controlled, a second drug is added, with the
   selection based on minimizing the adverse effects of the
  combined regimen. A beta-blocker is usually added if the initial
  drug was a diuretic, or a diuretic is usually added if the first drug
  was a β-blocker. A vasodilator can be added as a third step for
  those patients who still fail to respond.
                               Dr Khaled M Hasan
• A. Individualized care
• Black patients respond well to diuretics and
  calcium channel blockers, but therapy with β-
  blockers or ACE inhibitors is often less effective.
• Elderly respond well to calcium channel blockers,
   ACE inhibitors, and diuretics, whereas β-blockers
  and αantagonists are less well tolerated.
• Furthermore, hypertension may coexist with
  other diseases that can be aggravated by some
  of the antihypertensive drugs.
                        Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M
Hasan
Dr Khaled M Hasan
Compelling indications
for individual drug classes.
                         Dr Khaled M Hasan
The main drugs for treating hypertension can
 usefully be grouped as:
A: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
(ACEI) and angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonists
(sartans);
B: beta-adrenoceptor antagonists;
C: calcium channel antagonists;
D: diuretics.
                    Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M
Hasan
                    Initiating and titrating
                           antihypertensive
                    drug treatment, 2011
Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M Hasan
Algorithm for treatment of hypertension
                 Dr Khaled M Hasan
•Diuretics may aggravate diabetes
•Beta-blockers worsen glucose
intolerance and mask symptoms of
 hypoglycaemia
•Both diuretics and beta-blockers
 disturb the lipid profile
•Verapamil and diltiazem may
exacerbate heart failure, although
 amlodipine appears to be safe
•Patients with peripheral vascular
disease may also have renal artery
 stenosis; therefore ACE inhibitors
should be used cautiously
Dr Khaled M Hasan
• B. Patient compliance in antihypertensive therapy
• Lack of patient compliance is the most common reason for
  failure of antihypertensive therapy. The hypertensive patient is
  usually asymptomatic and is diagnosed by routine screening
  before the occurrence of overt end-organ damage.
• Thus, therapy is generally directed at preventing disease
  sequelae (that occur in the future), rather than in relieving the
  patient's present discomfort.
• The adverse effects associated with the hypertensive therapy
  may influence the patient more than the future benefits. For
  example, β-blockers can decrease libido and induce impotence
  in males, particularly middleaged and elderly men. This drug-
  induced sexual dysfunction may prompt the patient to
  discontinue therapy. Thus, it is important to enhance
  compliance by carefully selecting a drug regimen that both
  reduces adverse effects and minimizes the number of doses
  required daily.
                             Dr Khaled M Hasan
                          V. DIURETICS
•     Diuretics are currently recommended as the first-line drug
  therapy for hypertension unless there are compelling reasons to
  chose another agent. Low-dose diuretic therapy is safe and
  effective in preventing stroke, myocardial infarction, and
  congestive heart failure, all of which can cause mortality.
• Recent data suggest that diuretics are superior to β-blockers in
  older adults.
• A. Thiazide diuretics
• B. Loop diuretics
                               Dr Khaled M Hasan
A. Thiazide diuretics
Thiazides have found the most widespread
 use.
Spironolactone, a potassiumsparing
 diuretic, is used with thiazides.
Spironolactone has the additional benefit
of diminishing the cardiac remodeling that
 occurs in heart failure.
 1.Actions: Thiazide diuretics lower BP
initially by increasing sodium and water
 excretion. This causes a decrease in
extracellular volume, resulting in a
decrease in cardiac output .
With long-term treatment, plasma volume
   approaches a normal value, but
peripheral resistance decreases.
                             Dr Khaled M Hasan
(a) Ventricular
 remodelling
after acute
infarction
(b) Ventricular
 remodelling
in diastolic
and systolic
heart
     failure
                  Dr Khaled M Hasan
•    2. Therapeutic uses: Thiazide diuretics decrease BP
  in both supine and standing positions.
• These agents counteract the sodium and water retention
  observed with other agents used in treatment of
  hypertension (e.g, hydralazine).
• Thiazides are useful in combination therapy with β-
  blockers and ACE inhibitors. Thiazide diuretics are useful
  in the treatment of black or elderly patients.
• They are not effective in patients with inadequate
  kidney function (creatinine clearance <50 mL/min). Loop
  diuretics may be required in these patients.
                          Dr Khaled M Hasan
• B. Loop diuretics
• The loop diuretics act promptly, even in patients with
  poor renal function or who have not responded to
  thiazides or other diuretics.
• The loop diuretics cause decreased renal vascular
  resistance and increased renal blood flow.
                        Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M
Hasan
           β-Adrenoceptor-blocking Agents
• β-Blockers are currently recommended as first-line drug therapy for
  hypertension when indicated-for example, with heart failure.
• A. Actions
• The Beta-blockers reduce BP primarily by decreasing cardiac output (Fig).
  They may also decrease sympathetic outflow from CNS and inhibit the
  release of renin from the kidneys, thus decreasing the formation of
  angiotensin II and secretion of aldosterone.
• Prototype β-blocker is propranolol, which acts at both β1 and β2
  receptors.
• Selective blockers of β1 receptors, such as metoprolol and atenolol, are
  among the most commonly prescribed β-blockers.
• The selective β-blockers may be administered cautiously to hypertensive
  patients who also have asthma, for which propranolol is contraindicated
  due to its blockade of β2-mediated bronchodilation.
                                 Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M Hasan
• B. Therapeutic uses
• The β-blockers are more effective for treating
  hypertension in white than in black patients, and in young
  compared to elderly patients.
• Conditions that discourage the use of β-blockers (for
  example, severe chronic obstructive lung disease, chronic
  congestive heart failure, or severe symptomatic occlusive
  peripheral vascular disease) are more commonly found in
   the elderly and in diabetics.
• 2. Hypertensive patients with concomitant diseases: The
   β-blockers are useful in treating conditions that may
  coexist with hypertension, such as supraventricular
  tachyarrhythmia, previous myocardial infarction, angina
  pectoris, chronic heart failure, and migraine headache.
                          Dr Khaled M Hasan
• C. Pharmacokinetics
• The β-blockers are orally active. The β-blockers may take several
  weeks to develop their full effects.
• D. Adverse effects
• Bradycardia, fatigue, lethargy, insomnia, and hallucinations,
  hypotension, decrease libido, impotence. Drug-induced sexual
  dysfunction can severely reduce patient compliance.
• Decrease HDL and increase plasma triacylglycerol.
• 3. Drug withdrawal: Abrupt withdrawal may cause rebound
  hypertension, probably as a result of up-regulation of β-receptors.
  Removal from β-blocker therapy should therefore be tapered to
  avoid precipitation of arrhythmias.
• The β-blockers should be employed cautiously in the treatment of
  patients with asthma, acute heart failure, or peripheral vascular
  disease.
                               Dr Khaled M Hasan
        VII. ACE Inhibitors
• The ACE inhibitors, such as
  enalapril or lisinopril, are
  recommended when the
  preferred first-line agents
  (diuretics or β-blockers) are
   contraindicated or
  ineffective.
               Dr Khaled M Hasan
           ACE Inhibitors
Alacepril,               Lisinopril,
Benazepril,              Moexipril,
Captopril,               Perindopril,
Cilazapril,              Quinapril,
Delapril,                Ramipril,
Enalapril,               Spirapril,
Enalaprilat,             Temocapril,
Fosinopril,              Teprotide,
Imidapril,               Trandolapril
                         , Zofenopril,
               Dr Khaled M Hasan
• A. Actions
• The ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure by reducing peripheral
  vascular resistance without reflexively increasing cardiac output,
  rate, or contractility. These drugs block the ACE that cleaves AngI
  to form the potent vasoconstrictor AngII (Fig).
• The converting enzyme is also responsible for the breakdown of
  bradykinin. Vasodilation occurs as a result of the combined effects
  of lower vasoconstriction caused by diminished levels of
  angiotensin II and the potent vasodilating effect of increased
  bradykinin.
• By reducing circulating angiotensin II levels, ACE inhibitors also
  decrease the secretion of aldosterone, resulting in decreased
  sodium and water retention.
                               Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M
Hasan
•    B. Therapeutic uses
•   Like β-blockers, ACE inhibitors are most effective in hypertensive patients who are
    white and young. However, when used in combination with a diuretic, the
    effectiveness of ACE inhibitors is similar in white and black patients with
    hypertension.
•   Along with the angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors slow the progression of
    diabetic nephropathy and decrease albuminuria.
•   ACE inhibitors are also effective in the management of patients with chronic heart
    failure. ACE inhibitors are a standard in the care of a patient following a myocardial
    infarction.
•   C. Adverse effects
•   Common side effects include dry cough, rash, fever, altered taste, hypotension (in
    hypovolemic states), and hyperkalemia.
•   The dry cough, which occurs in about 10% of patients, is thought to be due to
    increased levels of bradykinin in the pulmonary tree.
•   Potassium levels must be monitored, and potassium supplements or
    spironolactone
    are contraindicated.
•   Angioedema is a rare but potentially life-threatening reaction and may also be due to
    increased levels of bradykinin. Because of the risk of angioedema and first-dose
    syncope, ACE inhibitors are first administered in the physician's office with close
    observation.
•   Reversible renal failure can occur in patients with severe renal artery stenosis. ACE
    inhibitors are feto-toxic and shouldDrnot  beMused
                                           Khaled  Hasan by women who are pregnant.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
•   CAPTOPRIL
•   CILAZAPRIL
•   ENALAPRIL MALEATE
•   FOSINOPRIL SODIUM
•   IMIDAPRIL HYDROCHLORIDE
•   LISINOPRIL
•   MOEXIPRIL HYDROCHLORIDE
•   PERINDOPRIL ERBUMINE
•   QUINAPRIL
•   RAMIPRIL
•   RAMIPRIL WITH FELODIPINE
•   TRANDOLAPRIL
                          Dr Khaled M Hasan
         VIII. Angiotensin II-receptor Antagonists
•    The Ang- II-receptor blockers (ARBs) are alternatives to the
  ACE inhibitors.
• Losartan, is the prototypic ARB; currently, there are six additional
  ARBs. Their pharmacologic effects are similar to those of ACE
  inhibitors in that they produce vasodilation and block aldosterone
  secretion, thus lowering blood pressure and decreasing salt and
  water retention.
• ARBs decrease the nephrotoxicity of diabetes, making them an
  attractive therapy in hypertensive diabetics. Their adverse
  effects are similar to those of ACE inhibitors, although the risks of
  cough and angioedema are significantly decreased. They are
  feto-toxic.
•
                               Dr Khaled M Hasan
    Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists
•   CANDESARTAN CILEXETIL
•   EPROSARTAN
•   IRBESARTAN
•   LOSARTAN POTASSIUM
•   OLMESARTAN MEDOXOMIL
•   TELMISARTAN
•   VALSARTAN
                  Dr Khaled M Hasan
   IX. Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB)
• CCBs are recommended when the preferred firstline
   agents are contraindicated or ineffective.
• They are effective in treating hypertension in patients
   with angina or diabetes. High doses of short-acting
  CCBs should be avoided because of increased risk of
  myocardial infarction.
• Classes of calcium channel blockers
• Verapamil
• Diltiazem
• Dihydropyridines (nifedipine, amlodipine, felodipine,
  isradipine, nicardipine, and nisoldipine)
                         Dr Khaled M Hasan
• Verapamil is the least selective of any calcium channel
  blocker, and has significant effects on both cardiac and
  vascular smoothmuscle cells. It is used to treat angina,
  supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, and migraine
  headache.
•
• Diltiazem, like verapamil, diltiazem affects both cardiac
  and vascular smoothmuscle cells; however, it has a less
  pronounced negative inotropic effect on heart compared
  to that of verapamil. Diltiazem has a favorable side-effect
  profile.
                          Dr Khaled M Hasan
• Dihydropyridines include nifedipine, amlodipine,
  felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, and nisoldipine.
•   These new-generation calcium channel blockers differ in pharmacokinetics, approved uses, and drug
    interactions.
• All dihydropyridines have a much greater affinity for
  vascular calcium channels than for calcium channels in
  the heart. They are therefore particularly attractive in
  treating hypertension.
• Newer agents, such as amlodipine and nicardipine, have
  the advantage that they show little interaction with
  other cardiovascular drugs, such as digoxin or warfarin,
  which are often used concomitantly with calcium
  channel blockers.
                                           Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M Hasan
        Calcium-channel blockers
•   AMLODIPINE
•   DILTIAZEM HYDROCHLORIDE
•   FELODIPINE
•   ISRADIPINE
•   LACIDIPINE
•   LERCANIDIPINE HYDROCHLORIDE
•   NICARDIPINE HYDROCHLORIDE
•   NIFEDIPINE
•   NIMODIPINE
•   NISOLDIPINE
•   VERAPAMIL HYDROCHLORIDE
                       Dr Khaled M Hasan
• B. Actions
• The intracellular concentration of calcium plays an important role in
  maintaining the tone of smooth muscle and in the contraction of the
  myocardium.
•   Calcium enters muscle cells through special voltagesensitive calcium channels. This triggers release of
    calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, which further increases the cytosolic level
    of calcium.
• Calcium channel antagonists block the inward movement of calcium by
  binding to L-type calcium channels in the heart and in smooth muscle of
  the coronary and peripheral vasculature. This causes vascular smooth
  muscle to relax, dilating mainly arterioles.
•
• C. Therapeutic uses
• Calcium channel blockers have an intrinsic natriuretic effect and, therefore,
  do not usually require the addition of a diuretic. These agents are useful in
  the treatment of hypertensive patients who also have asthma, diabetes,
  angina, and/or peripheral vascular disease (Fig). Black hypertensives
  respond well to calcium channel blockers.
                                               Dr Khaled M Hasan
• D. Pharmacokinetics
• Most of these agents have short half-lives (3-8 hours).
  Treatment is required three times a day to maintain good
  control of hypertension. Sustained-release preparations permit
  less frequent dosing.
•
• E. Adverse effects
• Infrequent side effects: constipation 10%, as dizziness,
  headache, and a feeling of fatigue caused by a decrease in
  blood pressure, edema (Fig).
• Verapamil should be avoided in patients with congestive heart
  failure due to its negative inotropic effects.
                            Dr Khaled M Hasan
      Alpha(α )-Adrenoceptor-blocking Agents
• Prazosin, doxazosin, and terazosin produce a competitive block of α-
  adrenoceptors.
• They decrease the peripheral vascular resistance and lower the
  arterial blood pressure by causing relaxation of both arterial and
  venous smooth muscle.
• These drugs cause only minimal changes in cardiac output, renal
   blood flow, and glomerular filtration rate. Therefore, long-term
  tachycardia does not occur, but salt and water retention does.
• Postural hypotension may occur in some individuals. Reflex
  tachycardia and first-dose syncope are almost universal adverse
  effects. Concomitant use of a beta-blocker may be necessary to
   blunt the short-term effect of reflex tachycardia.
                               Dr Khaled M Hasan
•   DOXAZOSIN
•   INDORAMIN
•   PRAZOSIN
•   TERAZOSIN
• Prostatic hyperplasia
• Alfuzosin, doxazosin, indoramin, prazosin,
  tamsulosin, and terazosin are indicated for benign
   prostatic hyperplasia
                      Dr Khaled M Hasan
         Centrally Acting Adrenergic Drugs
A. Clonidine
• This α2 agonist diminishes central adrenergic outflow. Clonidine
  is used primarily for the treatment of mild to moderate
  hypertension that has not responded adequately to treatment
  with diuretics alone. Clonidine does not decrease renal blood
  flow or glomerular filtration and, therefore, is useful in the
  treatment of hypertension complicated by renal disease.
• Clonidine is absorbed well after oral administration and is
  excreted by the kidney. Because it causes sodium and water
  retention, clonidine is usually administered in combination with a
   diuretic.
• Side effects: mild (sedation, drying nasal mucosa)
• Rebound HT occurs followinDrgKhaaedl bMrHuapsant withdrawal of clonidine
                B. α-Methyldopa
• This α2-agonist is converted to methylnorepinephrine
   centrally to diminish the adrenergic outflow from the
   CNS, leading to reduced total peripheral resistance
  and a decreased blood pressure.
• Cardiac output is not decreased and blood flow to
  vital organs is not diminished. Because blood flow to
  the kidney is not diminished by its use, α-methyldopa
  is especially valuable in treating HT patients with renal
   insufficiency.
• Side effects : sedation and drowsiness.
                         Dr Khaled M Hasan
Dr Khaled M
Hasan
                       Vasodilators
• Direct-acting smooth muscle relaxants: hydralazine ,minoxidil.
• Vasodilators produce relaxation of vascular   smooth muscle,
  which decreases resistance and therefore decreases blood
  pressure.
• These agents produce reflex stimulation of the heart, resulting in
  the competing symptoms of increased myocardial contractility,
  heart rate, and oxygen consumption. These actions may prompt
  angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, or cardiac failure in
  predisposed individuals.
• Vasodilators also increase plasma renin concentration,
  resulting in sodium and water retention. These undesirable side
  effects                     Dr Khaled M Hasan            can be
Dr Khaled M Hasan
A. Hydralazine
• Hydralazine is used to treat moderately severe HT. It is
   almost always administered in combination with a beta-
   blocker such as propranolol (to balance the reflex
   tachycardia) and a diuretic (to decrease sodium
   retention). Together, the three drugs decrease cardiac
   output, plasma volume, and peripheral vascular
   resistance.
• A lupus-like syndrome can occur with high dosage, but it
  is reversible on discontinuation of the drug.
                          Dr Khaled M Hasan
B. Minoxidil
• This drug causes dilation of resistance vessels
   (arterioles) but not of capacitance vessels (venules).
• Minoxidil is administered orally for treatment of severe
   to malignant hypertension that is refractory to other
   drugs.
• Minoxidil causes serious sodium and water retention,
  leading to volume overload, edema, and congestive
  heart failure.
• Minoxidil treatment also causes hypertrichosis (growth
  of body hair). This drug is now used topically to treat
  male pattern baldness.
                          Dr Khaled M Hasan
           Hypertensive Emergency
•       Hypertensive emergency is a rare but life-
    threatening situation in which the DBP is either >150
    mm Hg (with SBP >210 mm Hg) in an otherwise
    healthy person, or a DBP of 130 mm Hg in an
    individual with preexisting complications, such as
    encephalopathy, cerebral hemorrhage, left-ventricular
    failure, or aortic stenosis.
•   The therapeutic goal is to rapidly reduce blood
    pressure.
•   A. Sodium nitroprusside
•   B. Labetalol
•   C. Fenoldopam
                          Dr Khaled M Hasan
•
A. Sodium nitroprusside
• Nitroprusside is administered intravenously, and causes prompt
  vasodilation with reflex tachycardia. It is capable of reducing
  blood pressure in all patients regardless of the cause of
  hypertension (Fig).
• The drug has little effect outside the vascular system, acting
  equally on arterial and venous smooth muscle.
•   Because nitroprusside also acts on the veins, it can reduce cardiac preload.
    Nitroprusside is metabolized rapidly (halflife of minutes) and requires continuous
    infusion to maintain its hypotensive action.
• Adverse effects: hypotension caused by overdose. Nitroprusside
  metabolism results in cyanide ion production.
•   Although cyanide toxicity is rare, it can be effectively treated with an infusion of
    sodium thiosulfate to produce thiocyanate, which is less toxic and is eliminated by the
    kidneys. [Note: Nitroprusside is poisonous if given orally because of its hydrolysis to
    cyanide.]
                                        Dr Khaled M Hasan
• B. Labetalol
• Labetalol is both an (alpha- and a beta-blocker and is given as an intravenous
  bolus or infusion in hypertensive emergencies. Labetalol does not cause reflex
  tachycardia. Labetalol carries the contraindications of a nonselective beta-
  blocker. The major limitation is a longer half-life, which precludes rapid titration.
• C. Fenoldopam
• Fenoldopam is a peripheral dopamine-1 receptor agonist that is given as an
  intravenous infusion. Unlike other parenteral antihypertensive agents,
  fenoldopam maintains or increases renal perfusion while it lowers blood
  pressure. Fenoldopam can be safely used in all hypertensive emergencies and
  may be particularly beneficial in patients with renal insufficiency.
• D. Nicardipine
• Nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, can be given as an intravenous
  infusion.
                                     Dr Khaled M Hasan
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