Sodium nitroprusside

Sodium nitroprusside, often sold under the brand name Nitropress(TM) is a vasodilator. It is also used to test for the presence of ketones and the amines that often appear in illegal drugs. It is usually used as a short-term treatment for severe high blood pressure as it is very potent and fast acting. It can also be used to treat severe congestive heart failure and to reduce blood pressure to reduce bleeding during surgery.
It does have numerous side effects, including speeding up or slowing down the heart rate and palpitations. One of its break-down products is cyanide.
Sodium nitroprusside at WikipediaCategory:Pharmaceuticals