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Review
. 2024 Jan 3;16(1):e51608.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.51608. eCollection 2024 Jan.

Benefits and Risks of Medications Used in the Management of Hypotension: A Review

Thangwaritorn Skylynn  1 , Thomas Abel  1 , Lee Christopher  1 , Ghafary Suliman  1 , Rivera Dominic  1 , Varughese Joel  1 , Zeyu Yu  1 , Sudhakar Pemminati  2
Affiliations
Review

Benefits and Risks of Medications Used in the Management of Hypotension: A Review

Thangwaritorn Skylynn et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

This comprehensive literature review addresses the scarcity and limited study of hypotension treatments compared to abundant antihypertensive drugs. Hypotension, categorized as absolute, relative, or orthostatic, has diverse causes. This review explores various treatments, including drugs affecting the sympathetic nervous system, such as midodrine, dihydroergotamine, and ergotamine, which have shown efficacy in managing hypotension. Dopamine agonists/antagonists and other drugs such as ephedrine, norepinephrine, and fludrocortisone are also discussed, each with distinct mechanisms and applications. Additionally, adjunctive agents such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, caffeine, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors are reviewed for their effects on blood pressure. This review underscores the importance of understanding the efficacy and safety profiles of hypotension treatments to guide healthcare professionals in optimal drug selection and management, emphasizing the need for further research and comparative studies for evidence-based guidelines.

Keywords: adrenergic medications; autonomic control; cardiovascular; hypotension; norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Causes and classification of hypotension.
Image credits: Ghafary Suliman.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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