Phenylephrine Use Suggestions

Phenylephrine Use Suggestions

Keep initial dose < 0.5 mg for adults, <20 mcg/kg in children up to 25 kg.
If mild-to-moderate hypertension results, in a healthy individual, monitor for 10-15 min before antihypertensive medications are given.
Severe hypertension, or its adverse effects such as electrocardiographic changes or pulmonary edema, must be treated immediately.
HTN Tx:

use: direct vasodilators or alpha-receptor antagonists
DO NOT use: beta-blockers and calcium-channel blockers. These may worsen cardiac output and result in pulmonary edema.
If a beta-blocker is used: consider glucagon (to counteract the loss of cardiac contractility) as well as other standard therapies.