Table 3.

Suggested dose titration of antihypertensive therapy for urgent control of hypertension in pregnancy^a

Medication	T 0 min	T 30 min	T 60 min	T 90 min	T 120 min	T 150 minb	T 180 min
Labetalol (oral)	200 mg	—	200 mg	—	200 mg	—	Use an alternative drug from a different drug classc
Labetalol (IV intermittent)	10–20 mg	20–40 mgd	40–80 mg	40–80 mg	40–80 mg	40–80 mg
Labetalol (IV infusion)	0.5–2 mg/min	→	→	→	→	→c
Nifedipine (oral capsule)e	10 mg	10 mg	—	10 mg	—	10 mg
Nifedipine (oral PA or MR)	10 mg	—	10 mg	—	10 mg	—
Methyldopa (oral)	1000 mg	—	—	—	—
Hydralazine (IV)	5 mg	5–10 mg	5–10 mgf	5–10 mgf

IV, intravenous; MR, modified release; PA, prolonged action; T 0, time zero, meaning the start of treatment.

Magee. Personalized care of chronic hypertension. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022.

^aWhen severe hypertension has been resolved, switch to routine oral medication

^bDo not exceed the maximum dose of IV labetalol, which is 300 mg total in a treatment course

^cIf nifedipine or hydralazine were the initial drug used, choose oral labetalol or oral methyldopa as the alternative drug

^dDouble the initial dose of IV labetalol

^eTo be swallowed whole, not bitten

^fDo not exceed the maximum dose of IV hydralazine of 20 mg.