Identify the antihypertensive agent:

1. Rapid acting systemic and coronary artery vasodilator with minimal effects on cardiac conductivity or inotropy. Well studied in pregnancy. Caution in patients with left ventricular failure, liver cirrhosis

Answer: Nicardipine

2. Predominantly dilates the venous system. Useful in patients with cardiac ischemia, pulmonary edema, or congestive heart failure. Caution in patients with right ventricular failure

Answer: Nitroglycerin

3. Drug of choice in eclampsia, pre-eclampsia, and aortic dissection. Contraindicated in patients with congestive heart failure and heart block  

Answer: Labetalol

4. Decreases peripheral vascular resistance and increases collateral coronary blood flow in an uncontrolled and unpredictable manner and may result in serious complications. Drug of choice during pregnancy

Answer: Nifedipine

5. Direct arterial vasodilator that increases cardiac output and heart rate (Reflex response). Patient may develop lupus like syndrome. Not to be used as first line in the ED

Answer: Hydralyzine

6. Arterial vasodilator that delays atrioventricular conduction and has a negative inotropic effect 

Answer: Verapamil

7. Rapid onset of effect after oral administration (30 mins) with little change in cardiac output or reflex tachycardia. Adverse effect may include cough, angioedema. Toxic during first trimester.

Answer: Captopril

8. Only for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Not to be given IV only PO or NG tube  

Answer: Nimodipine

9. The only parenteral angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. May cause azotemia in older patients after MI

Answer: Enalapril

10. Oral or transdermal decreases peripheral vascular resistance. May cause sedation and bradycardia  

Answer: Clonidine

11. Used in patients who are volume overloaded but not in patients who are hypertensive and volume depleted 

Answer: Diuretics

12. Drug of choice  for pheochromocytoma, MAOI crisis, and cocaine overdose  

Answer: Phentolamine

Reference:
1. Richard S. Irwin, James M. Rippe. Manual of Intensive Care Medicine; 4th ed
2. Marx: Rosen’s Emergency Medicine, 7th ed (Chapter 82- Hypertension: Richard O. Gray)

 

 

Javier Benitez, MD

Javier Benitez, MD

ALiEM Featured Contributor
Javier Benitez, MD

@jvrbntz

Medical doctor, tweets not medical advice or endorsements. Interested in #MedEd & technology. Always learning. I'm no expert. No financial conflict of interest.
Javier Benitez, MD