Table 6.

Management of hypertensive emergencies.

Drug (brand name)	Therapeutic class	Administration route	Dosage	Time to effect	Duration of effect	Contraindications	Side effects
Nicardipine (Loxen)	Calcium channel blocker	IV	1–3 μg/kg per min	A few minutes	30 to 60 min	/	Reflex tachycardia Headache, flushing, nausea, inflammation at the injection site
Labetolol (Trandate)	Alpha and beta blocker	IV	2–20 mg/kg/day	5 to 10 min	3 to 24 h	Heart failure, Atrioventricular block, Asthma	Bradycardia, hypotension, nausea
Furosemide (Lasilix)	Loop-acting diuretic	IV, IM, or PO	Slow IV 30 min 0.5 to 3 mg/kg/dose every 3 to 4 h. Up to 10 mg/kg/day	5 min	2 to 3 h		Hypokalaemia Ototoxicity Increased blood glucose levels
Bumetanide (Burinex)	Diuretic	IV	0.02 mg/kg/injection up to 1 mg/kg/day	5 min	2 to 3 h		Hypokalaemia Increased blood glucose levels

Doses are given as examples, and the prescription of the drug should remain the physician's own responsibility.