Indication
Hypertensive emergency, aortic dissection, pregnancy severe HTN.
Preparation
200 mg in 200 mL D5W or NS.
Dilution
1 mg/mL
Rate
Bolus 10–20 mg over 2 min then infusion 0.5–2 mg/min IV; max cumulative 300 mg/day.
Monitoring
- • Continuous BP
- • HR (target reduction 10–20% first hour)
- • Asthma symptoms
Common errors
- • Rapid IV push → severe bradycardia/heart block
- • Undiluted extravasation
Pearls
- • First-line in aortic dissection (α+β)
- • Preferred in pregnancy HTN and phaeochromocytoma
