Rapidly-acting drug joins anti-hypertensive armamentarium
Diazoxide, the fast-acting antihypertensive agent, has been released for limited, in-hospital use.
The Food and Drug Administration notified the manufacturer of its decision shortly before Georgetown University cardiologist Frank Finnerty, Jr., MD, described his work with the drug at the American College of Cardiology meeting in San Francisco.
Diazoxide should become a drug of choice for treating encephalopathy and malignant hypertension, "where there is acute need to reduce arterial pressure," Dr. Finnerty told MEDICAL NEWS.
He stressed that the intravenous drug is not for routine treatment of minor hypertensive conditions. FDA's approved package insert indicates the drug should only be used in hospitalized patients, where close monitoring is possible.
When it becomes important to reduce arterial pressure rapidly, however, the drug offers advantages, Dr. Finnerty pointed out. No titration of dosage is necessary. In fact, best results are achieved when the full dosage is
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