Emergency treatment of hypertensive crisis with sublingual nifedipine.

Sublingual nifedipine 20 mg as an emergency treatment for severe hypertension or hypertensive crisis in 30 patients gave an effective and gradual reduction in blood pressure. Side effects were rare and not severe. The heart rate remained fairly stable or sometimes even decreased. Thus, sublingual nifedipine may now be considered a reasonable first choice in the treatment of severe hypertension or hypertensive crisis.