Pharmacology I · Exam 2 · Class of 2028

Direct Vasodilators Compared

Hydralazine, minoxidil and nitroprusside: what each dilates and how strong its reflex effects are.

Lecture 6 — Antihypertensive Drugs 3 rows

A plus means the effect is present and more plus means stronger; a minus means it is not. Minoxidil is the strongest arteriolar dilator and causes the most reflex tachycardia and sodium retention. Nitroprusside is the only one of the three that also dilates veins and does not cause sodium retention. (The lecturer said not to memorize the plus counts; know the pattern.)

Drug	Veins	Arterioles	Tachycardia (reflex)	Sodium retention	Source
Hydralazine Apresoline	−	+	+	+	L6 slide 98
Minoxidil Loniten	−	+++	+++	+++	L6 slide 98
Nitroprusside Nitropress	+	++	+	−	L6 slide 98

Every row is checked against the slide it cites by tools/check_pharm_e2.py before this page is written.

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