Table 5-5. Some drugs used in hypertensive emergencies. 
        Presc Cat contains the controlled drug 
        and FDA pregnancy safety category codes 
     To calculate dose for over/underweight patients: 
   ___________________________________________________________________________
   Drug	   	    Recommended			
   (Trade names)    Dose  	 Onset   Duration	Pres
   			 	   	    		Cat	Notes
   _________________________________________________________________________
   Diazoxide (Hyperstat IV: 300 mg/20 mL amp)		Rx;C
   	IV     1-3mg/kg Q5-15min          4-6hr		
    "minibolus"   150 mg maximum in a single injection. 	1
   Nifedipine  (Adalat, Procardia: 10 mg caps)	        Rx;C	2
    Sublingual	 10-20 mg	5-10min   4hr		
   Nitroprusside (generic, Nipride: 50 mg/vial)		Rx;C
        IV	0.5-10 ug/kg/min 30 sec	 1-5min   		3
   Trimethaphan (Arfonad: 500 mg/10 mL amp)  		Rx;X
   	IV	3-4mg/min      1-2min   10-30min  	
   ===========================================================================
   NOTES:
   1. Manufacturer's literature recommends rapid administration -- in 30 sec-
   onds or less -- but excessive lowering of pressure is much less common if
   administration is slower (over several minutes).
   2. Unlabeled use. Puncture capsule several times with needle, place under
   tongue.
   3. Nitroprusside is unstable once dissolved in IV fluid. Protect from light
   and discard after 24 hr. Average dose is 3 ug/kg.min. Rate of administra-
   tion should not exceed 10 ug/kg.min to avoid excessive serum cyanide
   levels. If satisfactory reduction of blood pressure is not achieved within
   10 minutes at this rate, additional drugs should be added or substituted.