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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 9.1 14 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

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

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

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

Brand name:  Trandate

Drug class: non-cardioselective beta blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, 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

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

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

Trandate Rate Add review
Rx C N X

Generic name: labetalol systemic

Drug class: non-cardioselective beta blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

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.