Vasodilator therapy
Vasodilators are effective in treating acute heart failure:
- they reduce the afterload and/or the preload on the failing heart
- intravenous administration ensures a rapid action but may cause a precipitous drop in the blood pressure
- oral administration is preferred by some clinicians
Vasodilators which are commonly used include:
- drugs which reduce preload:
- intravenous sodium nitroprusside
- glyceryl trinitrate
- drugs which reduce afterload:
- hydralazine
- hydralazine
- drugs which reduce preload and afterload:
- prazosin
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