Treating acute hypertensive crisis with sodium nitroprusside
Kohli, R.K.; Elwood, C.M.
American Family Physician 15(1): 141-145
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-838X PMID: 831390 Document Number: 122583
In patients with dangerously elevated diastolic blood pressures, the titrated intravenous administration of sodium nitroprusside usually reduces blood pressure to near-normal levels in less than an hour. This rapid reduction of pressure is well tolerated by hypertensive patients and probably diminishes the morbidity from renal and cardiac failure and stroke. The side effects of sodium nitroprusside treatment are minimal.