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Nitroprusside, Sodium
Sodium nitroprusside releases nitric oxide, which activates guanylate cyclase to increase cGMP levels, causing vasodilation of both arteries and veins.
Sodium nitroprusside releases nitric oxide, which activates guanylate cyclase to increase cGMP levels, causing vasodilation of both arteries and veins. Used for Hypertensive crisis/acute severe hypertension, Cardiogenic shock, Acute heart failure with elevated blood pressure.
At a glance
| Generic name | Nitroprusside, Sodium |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Nitroprus |
| Sponsor | Cristália Produtos Químicos Farmacêuticos Ltda. |
| Drug class | Nitrovasodilator |
| Target | Soluble guanylate cyclase (via nitric oxide) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Cardiovascular |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Nitroprusside is a direct-acting vasodilator that donates nitric oxide (NO) to vascular smooth muscle cells. NO activates soluble guanylate cyclase, increasing cyclic GMP (cGMP) concentrations, which leads to smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation. This dual arterial and venous vasodilation reduces both preload and afterload, making it useful for acute hypertensive crises and cardiogenic shock.
Approved indications
- Acute hypertensive crisis
- Cardiogenic shock
- Controlled hypotension during anesthesia
Common side effects
- Hypotension
- Tachycardia
- Headache
- Nausea
- Thiocyanate toxicity (with prolonged use)
- Cyanide toxicity (with prolonged use)
Key clinical trials
- Role of Sympathetic Vasoconstriction on Insulin-Mediated Microvascular Recruitment and Glucose Uptake in Obesity (PHASE1)
- HeartPhone Cancer Survivors Trial 2019 (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- Dapagliflozin and Endothelin Receptor Antagonism in Large Vessel Vasculitis (DERAIL-LVV) (PHASE2)
- Sodium Nitroprusside in Early Course Schizophrenia (PHASE2)
- The Impact of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on Cerebral Blood Flow and Cerebrovascular Function After Pregnancy (PHASE1)
- Early Neurovascular Adaptations in Aging Women (EARLY_PHASE1)
- Testosterone Deficiency and Endothelial Dysfunction After Spinal Cord Injury
- Endothelial Dysfunction After SCI
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Nitroprusside, Sodium CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Nitroprusside, Sodium updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Cristália Produtos Químicos Farmacêuticos Ltda. portfolio CI