Verapamil as A Hypotensive Agent: A Comparison, in the Anesthetized Rat, with Hydralazine, Diazoxide and Nitroprusside

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
When verapamil, hydralazine, diazoxide and nitroprusside were administered to rat i.v. as single bolus injections, the hypotensive potency of verapamil was 4 times that of hydralazine, 30 times that of diazoxide and 1/50 that of sodium nitroprusside. When verapamil and nitroprusside, the 2 shortest-acting agents, were compared after 30 min infusions, the potency of nitroprusside was only 4-5 times that of verapamil since nitroprusside, and not verapamil, exhibited tachyphylaxis. The hypotensive responses to i.v. infusions of verapamil were dose-related, well maintained and had a rapid, but somewhat less precipitous onset and offset than did those to nitroprusside. Verapamil was a potent and effective hypotensive agent.