Sodium Nitroprusside
Sodium Nitroprusside
Sodium Nitroprusside (pronunciation: SO-dee-um NYE-troe-PRUSS-ide) is a potent vasodilator used primarily in the treatment of acute hypertension and congestive heart failure.
Etymology
The term 'Sodium Nitroprusside' is derived from its chemical composition. 'Sodium' is a chemical element with the symbol Na (from Latin 'natrium'), 'Nitro' refers to the nitro group (NO2), and 'Prusside' is derived from Prussian blue, a deep blue pigment that contains the cyanide ion.
Usage
Sodium Nitroprusside is used in medical settings to rapidly reduce blood pressure in cases of hypertensive emergencies. It is also used in the treatment of acute congestive heart failure to decrease preload and afterload, thus reducing the heart's workload.
Mechanism of Action
Sodium Nitroprusside acts by releasing nitric oxide (NO), which stimulates the enzyme guanylate cyclase in vascular smooth muscle and increases cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), leading to dephosphorylation of myosin light chains and smooth muscle relaxation.
Side Effects
Potential side effects of Sodium Nitroprusside include hypotension, tachycardia, headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and flushing. Prolonged use can lead to cyanide toxicity.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sodium Nitroprusside
- Wikipedia's article - Sodium Nitroprusside
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski