Rapid‐Acting Parenteral Antihypertensive Agents

Abstract

Parenteral antihypertensive agents are useful in those clinical situations where rapid reduction of blood pressure is necessary or where treatment with oral antihypertensive medications is not feasible. Given the diverse selection of parenteral antihypertensive drugs now available, therapy can be individualized. The presence of concurrent diseases will often influence the decision-making process regarding choice of an agent. Complications of parenteral antihypertensive therapy can arise from the intrinsic properties of the various drugs or the development of severe hypotension. Gradual lowering of blood pressure, in conjunction with careful clinical evaluation, will minimize the risks of acute parenteral antihypertensive therapy. Given that parenteral antihypertensive therapy often needs to be replaced by oral therapy, those drugs that can be used both parenterally and orally may have an advantage.