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Medications for Hypertensive Emergency

A Hypertensive Emergency is a sudden spike in blood pressure to 180/120 or higher, and is a medical emergency. It could lead to organ damage or be life-threatening.

Drugs used to treat Hypertensive Emergency

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

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Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
clonidine Off-label 9.2 15 reviews for clonidine to treat Hypertensive Emergency
Rx C N X
Generic name:
clonidine systemic
Drug class:
antiadrenergic agents, centrally acting
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
hydralazine 2.8 5 reviews for hydralazine to treat Hypertensive Emergency
Rx C N X
Generic name:
hydralazine systemic
Brand name:
Apresoline
Drug class:
vasodilators
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
nifedipine Off-label 5.5 4 reviews for nifedipine to treat Hypertensive Emergency
Rx C N X
Generic name:
nifedipine systemic
Drug class:
calcium channel blocking agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
enalapril 9.0 1 review for enalapril to treat Hypertensive Emergency
Rx D N X
Generic name:
enalapril systemic
Brand name:
Vasotec
Drug class:
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
captopril Off-label Rate Add review
Rx D N X
Generic name:
captopril systemic
Drug class:
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Off-label:
Yes
labetalol 5.0 1 review for labetalol to treat Hypertensive Emergency
Rx C N X
Generic name:
labetalol systemic
Drug class:
non-cardioselective beta blockers
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Vasotec Rate Add review
Rx D N X
Generic name:
enalapril systemic
Drug class:
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Apresoline Rate Add review
Rx C N X
Generic name:
hydralazine systemic
Drug class:
vasodilators
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
nitroprusside Rate Add review
Rx C N X
Generic name:
nitroprusside systemic
Brand names:
Nitropress, Nipride RTU
Drug class:
agents for hypertensive emergencies, vasodilators
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
methyldopa 5.0 1 review for methyldopa to treat Hypertensive Emergency
Rx C N X
Generic name:
methyldopa systemic
Drug class:
antiadrenergic agents, centrally acting
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Nitropress Rate Add review
Rx C N X
Generic name:
nitroprusside systemic
Drug class:
agents for hypertensive emergencies, vasodilators
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Corlopam Rate Add review
Rx B N X
Generic name:
fenoldopam systemic
Drug class:
agents for hypertensive emergencies
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
diazoxide Rate Add review
Rx C N X
Generic name:
diazoxide systemic
Brand name:
Proglycem
Drug class:
agents for hypertensive emergencies, glucose elevating agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Cleviprex Rate Add review
Rx C N X
Generic name:
clevidipine systemic
Drug class:
calcium channel blocking agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
fenoldopam Rate Add review
Rx B N X
Generic name:
fenoldopam systemic
Brand name:
Corlopam
Drug class:
agents for hypertensive emergencies
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
clevidipine Rate Add review
Rx C N X
Generic name:
clevidipine systemic
Brand name:
Cleviprex
Drug class:
calcium channel blocking agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Nipride RTU Rate Add review
Rx C N X
Generic name:
nitroprusside systemic
Drug class:
agents for hypertensive emergencies, vasodilators
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Proglycem Rate Add review
Rx C N X
Generic name:
diazoxide systemic
Drug class:
agents for hypertensive emergencies, glucose elevating agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.