Cardiovascular Actions of Sodium Nitroprusside in Animals and Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

Certain chemical and pharmacological properties of sodium nitroprusside, a cheap, readily available chemical, have been described. It is a powerful hypotensive agent when given intravenously tohypertensive patients. It is no more effective than the sodium thiocyanate into which it is converted when given by mouth. Prolonged infusion has proved highly effective in the treatment of hypertensive encephalopathy.