Individual titration of diazoxide dosage in the treatment of severe hypertension.

Diazoxide, 300 mg as a single bolus injection, is widely used to treat severe hypertension. Although usually effective, this standard dosage may decrease the blood pressure too much, inducing hypotensive problems. In this study 32 patients with a diastolic blood pressure above 125 mm Hg were treated with smaller bolus injections, 105 or 150 mg, which were repeated every 5 minutes as needed to reduce the diastolic pressure to 110 mm Hg or less. Seven patients of the 32 patients needed only one injection of 150 mg; only one patient needed more than three injections. This individual titration with mini-bolus injections of diazoxide was effective and did not induce hypotension or other side effects.