Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Alternatives To Nitroprusside As Hypotensive Agents, Timothy Casey Mccullough

Honors Theses

The drug sodium pentacyanonitrosylferrate(2-)dihydrate, more commonly known as nitroprusside or nipride (Fig. 1), is a common vasodilating agent given clinically to patients with hypertension.12.22 Nitroprusside is effective in emergency rooms as it quickly reduces high blood pressure, but dosages are limited because of fear that cyanide could be released also. Nitroprusside is effective because the vasodilating agent nitric oxide, NO, is released. Nitric oxide is also recognized as an important biochemical messenger molecule.22 Our research involves a search for different species that could introduce nitric oxide into the body without cyanide. Transition metal complexes involving ruthenium, iron, and cobalt that …