Template:Common Medications for BP Control in Acute Stroke

Common Medications for BP Control in Acute Stroke

Agent	Typica Dose/Range	Onset of Action	Cautions/Contraindications
Labetalol	10-20 mg IV push; may repeat x 1	5 min	Avoid in COPD, asthma, heart failure, bradycardia, heart block
Nicardipine	IV infusion at 5 mg/h; titrate up by 2.5 mh/h q5-15 min; max 15 mg/h	1-5 min	Avoid in severe aortic stenosis
Clevidipine	1-2 mg/h IV; titrate by doubling dose q2-5 min; max 21 mg/h	2-4 min; short half-life	Avoid in egg/soy allergy
Hydralazine	10-20 mg IV; repeat q4-6 h	10-20 min

Labetalol 10-20 mg IV push, may repeat x1 IV (onset 5 min) — Avoid in COPD, asthma, heart failure, bradycardia, heart block Nicardipine 5-15 mg/hr IV, titrate by 2.5 mg/hr q5-15 min IV drip (onset 1-5 min) — Avoid in severe aortic stenosis Clevidipine 1-2 mg/hr IV, double dose q2-5 min, max 21 mg/hr IV drip (onset 2-4 min) — Avoid in egg/soy allergy Hydralazine 10-20 mg IV, repeat q4-6h IV (onset 10-20 min)