Table 3: Drugs used in the treatment of hypertensive emergency [15].
DRUG | DOSE |
Sodium nitroprusside | Infusion of 0.25 mg/kg/minute up to 10 mcg/kg/minute, or until reaching the appropriate BP figure. |
Nicardipine | 5 mg/hour, increase by 1-2.5 mg/hour every 15 min, maximum dose 10 mg/hour |
Labetalol | 1 to 2 mg/min, or 20 to 80 mg IV bolus every 5 to 10 min, increase to 300 mg of total dose |
Esmolol | 0.5 to 1 mg/kg loading dose over 1 minute, followed by infusion starting at 50-300 mcg/kg/min |
Nitroglycerin | Infusion 5 a 200 mcg/min |