Pharmacology and the Nursing Process by Linda Lane Lilley: Practice Exam

Sodium nitroprusside, or Nitropress, is an intravenous medication that is given directly into the vein. This is because it acts quickly to lower blood pressure and should be delivered immediately for maximum effectiveness. Oral, subcutaneous, and intramuscular routes are not used for this medication due to slower onset and less predictable absorption rates. Only the intravenous route allows for fast and direct delivery of the medication to the bloodstream.