Clevidipine (INN,[2] trade name Cleviprex) is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker indicated for the reduction of blood pressure when oral therapy is not feasible or not desirable.

Clevidipine does not reduce cardiac filling pressure (pre-load), confirming lack of effects on the venous capacitance vessels.

This is a racemate, ie a 1: 1 mixture of ( R ) – and the ( S ) - form:[3] Aseptic technique should be used when handling Cleviprex since it contains phospholipids and can support microbial growth.

As the blood pressure approaches goal, the infusion rate should be increased in smaller increments and titrated less frequently.

In clinical studies, no significant changes occurred in serum triglyceride levels in the Cleviprex treated patients.

The infusion can be reduced or discontinued to achieve desired blood pressure while appropriate oral therapy is established.

Titrate drug depending on the response of the individual patient to achieve the desired blood pressure reduction.

Monitor blood pressure and heart rate continually during infusion, and then until vital signs are stable.

In clinical trials, the safety profile of clevidipine was generally similar to sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, or nicardipine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

[4] Cleviprex is contraindicated in patients with allergies to soybeans, soy products, eggs, or egg products; defective lipid metabolism such as pathologic hyperlipemia (rare genetic disorders characterized by abnormal triglyceride metabolism), lipoid nephrosis, or acute pancreatitis if it is accompanied by hyperlipidemia; and in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers can produce negative inotropic effects and exacerbate heart failure.

Cleviprex has been evaluated in 6 Phase III clinical studies including the perioperative and emergency department/intensive care settings.

The incidence of death, stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and renal dysfunction at 30 days did not differ significantly between the pooled Cleviprex and comparator treatment arms.

VELOCITY was an open-label trial of 126 patients with severe hypertension (BP > 180/115 mmHg) in the emergency department and intensive care unit.