title: Same effect of sublingual and oral captopril in hypertensive crisis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertensive crisis is a condition characterized by rapid and inappropriate symptomatic elevation of blood pressure (BP) that is commonly seen in Emergency Departments. Oral or sublingual captopril is commonly used in the Emergency Departments. The unpleasant taste of the sublingual drugs causes uncomfortable condition to the patient. Studies showing no difference between oral and sublingual captopril has been ignored so far. Herein we compared the oral and sublingual captopril efficiency in the hypertensive urgencies.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective observational study, 71 patients admitted with hypertensive urgency to Emergency Departments of two hospitals in 2011 whose blood pressure were recorded before captopril administration and blood pressure were recorded after captopril administration at 0-5-15-30-45-60 minutes were included the study. The reductions of the blood pressure of oral and sublingual captopril groups were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 28 patients at oral and 43 at sublingual captopril group. The mean age ± SD was 58.13 ± 8.66 years and 41 (57.7%) patients were female. The most common complaints were headache, nausea/vomiting and weakness. 65 (91.5%) patients were using antihypertensive drugs before admitted to hospital. The blood pressure at 0, 5, 15, 30, 45 and 60th minutes of therapy didn't show any difference between oral and sublingual captopril use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was any difference between oral and sublingual captopril efficiency to control of hypertension in patient with hypertensive urgency. For a more comfortable treatment, oral captopril may be a more convenient choice in the hypertensive urgencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. evvahka@gmail.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karakiliç
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Büyükcam
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kocalar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gedik
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Atalar
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002216:Captopril / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002216:Captopril