II. Mechanism

  1. Direct vasodilators relax vascular Smooth Muscle
  2. One mechanism of vasodilation is mediated by nitric oxide in the vascular endothelium

III. Medications: Direct Acting Vasodilators IV

  1. Hydralazine (Apresoline)
    1. Dose: 10-40 mg IV/IM q4-6h
  2. Hydralazine with Isosorbide Dinitrate 37.5/20 (BiDil)
    1. Dose: 1-2 tablets orally three times daily
    2. For Class III CHF patients (esp. African American)
    3. Very expensive: $400/month
    4. Generic Drugs separately are $60/month
  3. Diazoxide (Hyperstat)
    1. Dose: 1-3 mg/kg up to 150 mg IV q5-15 min
  4. Nitroprusside Sodium (Nipride)
  5. Minoxidil (Loniten)
  6. Fenoldopam (Corlopam)

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Related Studies

Cost: Medications

diazoxide (on 11/23/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
DIAZOXIDE 50 MG/ML ORAL SUSP Generic $7.19 per ml