Patient management tactics during sudden high blood pressure
The article discusses the captopril efficacy in the treatment of patients with sudden high blood pressure (BP). Sudden high BP remains the most common reason for calling an emergency. A marked high BP without affecting target organs may be accompanied by subjective symptoms that reduce the patients’ life quality and ability to work (“individually significant acute high BP”). Antihypertensive therapy in acute high BP without affecting the target organs should be performed on an outpatient basis with oral medications. Fast-acting medications with an optimal duration of action should be chosen. The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (Capoten) fully meets the requirements for medications aimed at relief of an individually significant acute high BP. The drug has a favorable safety profile, which allows to prescribe it for patients with comorbidity, including chronic heart failure, heart rhythm disorders and elderly age. Fast action (achieved by sublingual administration) and good safety profile allow it to be considered the front-line drug, including as self-treatment and mutual aid to patients with a sudden high BP.