Treatment of Hypertensive Emergencies Initiate short-acting IV medication (eg, clevidipine, esmolol, labetalol) in the emergency department Admit to intensive care unit (ICU) Goal: 20 to 25% reduction MAP in 1 to 2 hours Hypertensive emergencies are treated in an ICU; blood pressure is progressively (although not abruptly) reduced using a short-acting, titratable IV medication.