In association with the decrease in blood pressure, sodium nitroprusside administered intravenously to hypertensive and normotensive patients produces slight increases in heart rate and a variable effect on cardiac output.

Why does nitroprusside cause tachycardia?

Systemic arterial dilation reduces afterload, which can enhance cardiac output while at the same time reducing ventricular wall stress and oxygen demand. At high concentrations, excessive systemic vasodilation may lead to hypotension and a baroreceptor reflex that produces tachycardia.

What does nitroprusside do to the heart?

In general, it improves hemodynamic and clinical status by reducing systemic vascular resistance, left ventricular filling pressure, and increasing cardiac output.