University of Maryland School of Medicine logo
Emergency Medicine
All Departments
UMSOM Assistant
UMEM Educational Pearls
  • Home
  • Departments
  • Emergency Medicine
  • CME
  • UMEM Educational Pearls
  • CME
  • Courses and Conferences
  • Free Open Access Medical Education
  • UMEM Educational Pearls

Search

Title: As needed blood pressure meds-they probably aren’t needed.

Category: Cardiology

Keywords: Hypertension, as needed, acute kidney injury (PubMed Search)

Posted: 2/9/2025 by Robert Flint, MD (Updated: 7/21/2026)

A retrospective look at veterans who received oral and/or IV as needed blood pressure medications while hospitalized in a non-ICU setting found an association with as needed meds and acute kidney injury, greater than 25% blood pressure drop in 3 hours, and death, stroke and MI while hospitalized. IV medications had a higher association. 
While needing prospective validation, this appears to be more evidence to treat the patient not the number.

References

Canales MT, Yang S, Westanmo A, Wang X, Hadley D, Ishani A, Mohandas R, Shorr R, Lo-Ciganic W. As-Needed Blood Pressure Medication and Adverse Outcomes in VA Hospitals. JAMA Intern Med. 2025 Jan 1;185(1):52-60. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.6213. PMID: 39585709; PMCID: PMC11589853.


University of Maryland School of Medicine logo
  • Departments
  • Programs
  • Research Centers
  • Institutes
  • Graduate Education
  • CIBR Cores
  • Offices of the Dean
    • University of Maryland, Baltimore
    • University of Maryland Medical Center
    • Medical Alumni Association of the University of Maryland
    • Health Sciences and Human Services Library
University of Maryland School of Medicine
655 W. Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Contact Us

© University of Maryland School of Medicine

    • Webmaster
    • Web Accessibility
    • Site Index
    • UMB Hotline
    • Employment
    • Map