Nicardipine
Hypertensive emergency, ICH blood pressure management, Acute ischemic stroke BP control
Indications
- Hypertensive emergency
- ICH blood pressure management
- Acute ischemic stroke BP control
Adult dosing
- infusion: dose: 5; maxDose: 15; unit: mg/hr; route: IV; interval: titrate q5-15min by 2.5 mg/hr; fixed: true
Pediatric dosing
- infusion: dose: 1; maxDose: 3; unit: mcg/kg/min; route: IV; weightBased: true
Contraindications
- Severe aortic stenosis
Clinical pearls
- Preferred drip for most hypertensive emergencies — predictable, titratable
- Start 5 mg/hr, increase by 2.5 mg/hr q5-15min to max 15 mg/hr
- Does NOT need central line — can run peripheral
- ICH target: SBP <140 within 1 hour (INTERACT2)
Source and review
- AHA/ASA ICH Guidelines 2022; JNC-8. Last reviewed: 2024-11-01