ORAL AGENTS FOR HYPERTENSIVE URGENCIES
The following oral agents can be used for hypertensive urgencies .Captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, is well tolerated and has effectively reduced blood pressure in hypertensive urgencies. Given by mouth, captopril is usually effective within 15–30 minutes and may be repeated in 1–2 hours depending upon the response. The drug has been administered sublingually, in which case the onset of action may occur within 10–20 minutes, with the maximal effect reached within 1 hour. Administration may lead to acute renal failure in patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis, and reflex tachycardia may be observed. Responsiveness to this agent can be enhanced by the administration of a loop diuretic, such as furosemide.