Opens potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle, stabilizing the membrane potential at the resting level, and preventing vascular smooth muscle contraction.
Decreases mean arterial blood pressure.
Can result in stroke and myocardial infarction. Reflex sympathetic response. Diazoxide is administered parentally to treat hypertensive emergencies. The reflex sympathetic response to diazoxide can provoke angina, electrocardiographic evidence of ischemia, and cardiac failure in patients with ischemic heart disease. Hyperglycemia can complicate diazoxide use, particularly in persons with renal insufficiency.