What is Acute Hypotensive Reaction?

Patients treated with anti-hypertensive drugs have the tendency to develop acute hypotensive reactions which are usually characterized by fainting, weakness, nausea and vomiting. This condition is equally dangerous and needs to handled properly so that the patient does suffer any harm
The patient should be taught how to prevent acute hypotensive reaction and what to do if they should occur.
i.In case of acute hypotensive reaction, patient should lie down immediately with his feet elevated above the head; flex the thigh and wriggle the toes to increase blood flow to the brain. This would help to increase blood and oxygen supply to brain cells
ii.Patient should get up slowly from lying position to a sitting position before standing. This is to allow the vascular system adjust to changes in position. Otherwise there could sudden drop in blood pressure which would make the to slump and get injured.
iii.Patient should avoid standing motionless, especially within the first 2 hrs of taking anti-hypertensive drugs. Standing motionless causes drainage of blood from the brain and other organs thereby leading to a fainting attack. It also makes the vessels of the legs to relax causing a pooling of blood in the lower extremities.
iv.Constipation should be avoided because it causes increased or irregular absorption of anti-hypertensive drugs. This can lead to critical hypotensive reactions.
v.Driving within 2 hours of taking anti-hypertensive drugs should be done carefully to avoid accidents.There could be pooling of blood from the brain and this eventually could make the patient experience dizziness or confusion and when this happen an accident may be inevitable. Accident is a major in acute hypotensive reaction.
vi.Avoid hot baths and excessive alcohol which can cause vasodilatation and fainting.A patient who is likely to experience acute hypotensive reaction or a patient who has actually experienced it before must try and avoid alcohol because the alcohol will produce a state of hypotension (lowered blood arterial pressure)and when its effect combines with the effect of the anti-hypertensive drugs acute hypotensive reaction would surely occur.