Quote from tammy_zeidan09
So I for some reason am having such a tough time remembering the name of a medication! I had clinical and was looking at a pt's meds. There was one antihypertensive drug I've never heard of and is RARELY used by the pt, which is why I don't remember it. It was a weird one, one with a long generic name. But it is indicated for emergency HTN for bp over 210/120 mmHg. I know this is so broad, but can anyone think of a antihypertensive that is commonly used for emergency HTN ?
It isn't lisinopril,metoprolol, lotensin, propranalol...I googled some to try to refresh my memory but had not like..
Maybe hydralizine? Has anyone heard of this treating emergency HTN or is it commonly used for general HTN
Thankss
We use single dose hydalazine to rapidly reduce severe HTN. Given IV you can see a 20 pt drop in minutes. The half-life isn't long (3 hours) but the hypotensive effects persists up to 12 hours, or longer in some pts.
Norvasc is a great antihypertensive but it doesn't lower BP enough to be use emergently.
Last edit by BostonFNP on Nov 10, '12
Nov 10, '12 by hodgieRNNorvasc is definitely used for chronic hypertesion. Probably what happened was the pt got some IV medication that brought it down to more suitable level, and then was placed on Novasc as scheduled dose. But just FYI Norvasc isn't used in hypertensive emergencies. That would be Nipride IV, Cardene, IV, Labetolol IV, or PRN hydralazine. I suspect the Norvasc came later. I mean, I hope a pt presenting with a B/P of 210/120 wasn't simply given Norvasc. The poor guy could be stroking at any minute! Yikes! Just my thought....turnforthenurseRN likes this.
Nov 10, '12 by BostonFNPQuote from tammy_zeidan09We use single dose hydalazine to rapidly reduce severe HTN. Given IV you can see a 20 pt drop in minutes. The half-life isn't long (3 hours) but the hypotensive effects persists up to 12 hours, or longer in some pts.So I for some reason am having such a tough time remembering the name of a medication! I had clinical and was looking at a pt's meds. There was one antihypertensive drug I've never heard of and is RARELY used by the pt, which is why I don't remember it. It was a weird one, one with a long generic name. But it is indicated for emergency HTN for bp over 210/120 mmHg. I know this is so broad, but can anyone think of a antihypertensive that is commonly used for emergency HTN ?