Table 3 Recommended antihypertensive agents for hypertensive crises
From: Clinical review: The management of hypertensive crises
Condition | Preferred antihypertensive agent |
|---|---|
Acute pulmonary edema | Fenoldopam or nitroprusside in combination with nitroglycerin (up to 60 μg/min) and a loop diuretic |
Acute myocardial ischemia | Labetalol or esmolol in combination with nitroglycerin (up to 60 μg/min) |
Hypertensive encephalopathy | Labetalol, nicardipine, or fenoldopam |
Acute aortic dissection | Labetalol or combination of nicardipine or fenoldopam and esmolol or combination of nitroprusside with either esmolol or intravenous metoprolol |
Eclampsia | Labetalol or nicardipine. Hydralazine may be used in a non-ICU setting |
Acute renal failure/microangiopathic anemia | Fenoldopam or nicardipine |
Sympathetic crisis/cocaine overdose | Verapamil, diltiazem, or nicardipine in combination with a benzodiazepine |