Tag: Pressors

Vasoconstriction is a crucial physiological process, but it can also be induced by various medications for therapeutic purposes. Understanding which medication causes vasoconstriction is essential for treating specific medical conditions, from low blood pressure to nasal congestion.

According to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, norepinephrine is the recommended first-line vasopressor for adults with septic shock who remain hypotensive after initial fluid resuscitation. This recommendation is based on its efficacy in reversing hypotension, and a relatively favorable side-effect profile compared to other vasopressors like dopamine. The specific choice of what is the first pressor to start can vary depending on the underlying cause of the patient's shock and their individual hemodynamic status.

Vasoconstricting medications, sometimes called 'pressors,' are often used as life-support drugs in critical care units to rapidly increase a patient's blood pressure. However, various over-the-counter and illicit substances can also have this effect, making it crucial to understand exactly what drug causes vasoconstriction and increases blood pressure.

In a significant effort to simplify the cardiac arrest algorithm, the 2015 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines removed a key medication. The answer to **which pressor was removed from ACLS in 2015** is **vasopressin**.