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Hypertensive emergencies treated with oral clonidine
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Oral clonidine effectively manages hypertensive emergencies. A loading dose followed by hourly administration significantly reduced blood pressure in most patients with minimal side effects.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hypertensive emergencies require prompt and effective blood pressure reduction.
- Parenteral antihypertensive agents are commonly used but may require specialized administration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral clonidine as a treatment for hypertensive emergencies.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-eight severely hypertensive patients received an initial "loading" dose of 0.2 mg oral clonidine.
- Subsequent doses of 0.1 mg were administered hourly until blood pressure decreased or a total of 0.8 mg was reached.
Main Results:
- A favorable response was observed in 82.1% of patients (35 out of 38).
- Mean systolic blood pressure decreased from 210 +/- 20 mmHg to 145 +/- 20 mmHg.
- Mean diastolic blood pressure decreased from 98 +/- 15 mmHg to 98 +/- 15 mmHg within 6 hours.
- The average total dose administered was 0.5 mg, with minimal reported side-effects.
Conclusions:
- Oral clonidine, initiated with a loading dose, is a safe and effective option for managing hypertensive emergencies.
- This oral regimen may offer an advantage over parenteral antihypertensive therapies.