Sodium Nitroprusside

Information about Sodium Nitroprusside

Sodium nitroprusside is a nitrovasodilator that is used intravenously for therapy of severe hypertension, hypertensive emergencies and heart failure.

Liver safety of Sodium Nitroprusside

Despite its use for many years, nitroprusside has not been convincingly linked to cases of clinically apparent liver injury.

Mechanism of action of Sodium Nitroprusside

Sodium nitroprusside (nye" troe prus' ide) is a nonselective vasodilator that acts through release of nitric oxide to cause relaxation of smooth muscle cells of arterioles and venules. Nitroprusside is used predominantly to treat hypertensive emergencies, such as to lower blood pressure during acute aortic dissection or to improve cardiac output in severe congestive heart failure. Nitroprusside is unstable and must be administered intravenously with careful monitoring. It is rarely used for more than a few hours or days.

FDA approval information for Sodium Nitroprusside

Nitroprusside was approved for use in the United States in 1981 and continues to be used in critical or emergency situations. Sodium nitroprusside is available in solution for injection in 2 or 5 mL vials of 50 mg generically and under the brand name of Nitropress.

Dosage and administration for Sodium Nitroprusside

The usual initial dose is 0.25 to 0.30 mcg/kg/minute by intravenous infusion with subsequent increase based upon clinical effect and blood pressure. The rate of infusion should be carefully managed; the average effective dose in children and adults is 3 mcg/kg/minute and the maximum recommended dose is 10 mcg/kg/minute.

Side effects of Sodium Nitroprusside

Nitroprusside has many side effects including hypotension, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, stupor, bradycardia, palpitations, flushing, nausea, metabolic acidosis and rash.

Antihypertensive agents

• Dailymed label info on Sodium Nitroprusside
• FDA Sodium Nitroprusside

Sodium Nitroprusside Resources
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