About sodium nitroprusside
Direct-acting vasodilator
Used for
- Rapid blood pressure reduction in hypertensive emergencies
- Controlled blood pressure reduction during surgery
- Short-term treatment of acute heart failure
Usual adult dose
Intravenous infusion, usually starting at 0.3 micrograms/kg/min; titrated under continuous monitoring, generally not exceeding 10 micrograms/kg/min.
Usual dose in children
Intravenous infusion, commonly starting at 0.3–0.5 micrograms/kg/min; carefully titrated with continuous monitoring.
Common side effects
- Low blood pressure
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache
- Cyanide or thiocyanate toxicity with prolonged or high-dose treatment
Important warnings
- Requires continuous blood pressure monitoring and specialist supervision.
- Rapid blood pressure drops can reduce blood flow to vital organs.
- Cyanide toxicity risk rises with high doses, prolonged use, or impaired clearance.
- Protect solution from light; use only as directed by product labeling.
Pregnancy
Use only when clearly needed; risks and benefits require specialist assessment.
Breastfeeding
Information is limited; specialist assessment is needed during treatment.
Interactions
- Other blood-pressure-lowering medicines may cause severe hypotension.
- Sildenafil, tadalafil, or similar medicines can increase blood-pressure lowering.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.