Nitroprusside belongs to a class of medicines known as vasodilators. It is used to decrease the blood pressure in emergency conditions where the blood pressure is extremely high (hypertensive crisis). It is also used to maintain low blood pressure during surgical procedures in a hospital setting.

Nitroprusside widens the blood vessels (arteries and veins) which provides a better and smooth path for the blood to flow. This reduces the pressure on the walls which results in effective and significant decrease in the blood pressure.

Nitroprusside is wrapped in aluminum foil to protect it from light. This is because Nitroprusside is very sensitive to light. The solution will degrade every 4 hours if left unprotected. On the contrary, covering it with aluminum foil makes it stable for around 24 hours.

Nitroprusside may cause side effects like low blood pressure and cyanide poisoning. Additionally, you may also notice abdominal pain, sweating, dizziness, headache, muscle twitching and nausea. However, these are usually not bothersome but if any of these side effects worry you or persist for a longer duration of time, please consult your doctor. Your doctor will suggest ways to manage or prevent these side effects.

Nitroprusside is extremely sensitive to light. If left open, its chemical composition changes rapidly and the color may change from brown to blue or green. If left unprotected, 20% of the solution will deteriorate every 4 hours even in glass bottles. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent exposure of Nitroprusside to any kind of light, especially fluorescent light.