Hypertensive Emergencies

Initial Management of Poisoned Patient

“…When hypertension is caused by overdoses of drugs with direct adrenergic activity, such as amphetamines, ephedrine, or pseudoephedrine, direct vasodilators such as phentolamine or nitroprusside should be considered. 16 When hypertension is caused by drugs with indirect adrenergic activity or by drug-of-abuse withdrawal, sedation with benzodiazepines should be considered. 17 Abnormal hemoglobins (i.e., methemoglobin, sulfhemoglobin, or carboxyhemoglobin) and toxins that disrupt the mitochondrial electron transport chain (e.g., cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, or sodium azide) prevent the use of oxygen at the molecular level [18][19][20] resulting in histotoxic hypoxia and shock.…”