Hydralazine | Side Effects, Dosage, Uses & More - Healthline

Hydralazine is an oral and injectable drug used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Learn about side effects, warnings, dosage, and more. HealthlineHealthConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShopSubscribeHydralazine,OralTabletMedicallyreviewedbyCreightonUniversity,CenterforDrugInformationandEvidence-BasedPractice—WrittenbyUniversityofIllinois—UpdatedonFebruary16,2018WarningsAboutSideeffectsInteractionsOtherwarningsDosageTakeasdirectedImportantconsiderationsAlternativesHighlightsforhydralazineHydralazineoraltabletisonlyavailableasagenericdrug.Hydralazineisanoralandinjectabledrugthat’susedtotreathighbloodpressure.It’susedaloneorincombinationwithotherbloodpressure-loweringdrugs.Commonsideeffectsincludeheadache,lossofappetite,nausea,vomiting,diarrhea,fastheartrate,andchestpain.Don’tstoptakinghydralazinesuddenly.Doingsomayleadtouncontrolledhighbloodpressure.Itcanraiseyourriskforheartproblems,suchaschestpainorheartattack.Ifyouneedtostoptakingthisdrug,yourdoctorwillslowlyloweryourdoseovertwoweeks.ImportantwarningsLupusSymptomsWarning:Hydralazinemaycausesymptomsthatcanfeellikelupus.Symptomscaninclude:jointpainandstiffnessarashonyourfacefevertirednesslossofappetitenauseaweightlosschestpainkidneyproblemswithsymptomssuchaspinkordark-coloredurine,highbloodpressure,orswellinginyourface,hands,orfeetNerveDamageWarning:Hydralazinemaycausethefollowingsymptomsofnervedamage:numbnessortinglinginyourhandsandfeetpricklingoritchingofyourskinTellyourdoctorifyouhavethesesideeffects.TheymaysuggestthatyoutakevitaminB-6(pyridoxine)tohelpdecreasethesesymptoms.HeartProblemsWarning:Usethisdrugwithcautionifyouhaveheartproblems.Hydralazinemaycauseaheartattack,especiallyifyoualreadyhaveheartissues.Tellyourdoctorifyouhaveaheartcondition.Whatishydralazine?Hydralazineisaprescriptiondrug.It’savailableasanoraltabletandaninjection.Theinjectionisonlygivenbyahealthcareprovider.Hydralazineisonlyavailableasagenericdrug.Genericdrugsusuallycostlessthanbrand-nameversions.Whyit’susedHydralazineisusedtotreathighbloodpressure.It’susedaloneorincombinationwithotherbloodpressure-loweringmedications.HowitworksHydralazinebelongstoaclassofdrugscalledperipheralvasodilators.Aclassofdrugsisagroupofmedicationsthatworkinasimilarway.Thesedrugsareoftenusedtotreatsimilarconditions.Itisn’tfullyunderstoodhowhydralazineworks.It’sthoughtthatthedrugactsonthebloodvesselsdirectlyandrelaxesthem.Thisresultsinlowerbloodpressurelevels.Hydralazine sideeffectsHydralazineoraltabletdoesn’tcausedrowsiness,butitcancauseothersideeffects.MorecommonsideeffectsThemorecommonsideeffectsthatcanoccurwithhydralazineinclude:headachelossofappetite(anorexia)nauseavomitingdiarrheafastheartratechestpainIftheseeffectsaremild,theymaygoawaywithinafewdaysoracoupleofweeks.Ifthey’remoresevereordon’tgoaway,talktoyourdoctororpharmacist.SerioussideeffectsCallyourdoctorrightawayifyouhaveserioussideeffects.Call911ifyoursymptomsfeellife-threateningorifyouthinkyou’rehavingamedicalemergency.Serioussideeffectsandtheirsymptomscanincludethefollowing:Heart-relatedsymptoms,suchas:verylowbloodpressure(hypotension)fastheartratedizzinessordisorientationswellinginyourarmsandlegsNerveproblems.Symptomscaninclude:numbnesstinglingpricklingoritchingofyourskinDepressionoranxiety.Symptomscaninclude:feelingdownornotlikeyourselfchangesinappetitefeelingworriedoronedgenotbeinginterestedinactivitiesyounormallyenjoyAllergicreaction.Symptomscaninclude:skinrashitchingskinrednesstoyourskinfeverchillspaininyourjointsTroublebreathingSevereconstipationTroubleurinatingDisclaimer:Ourgoalistoprovideyouwiththemostrelevantandcurrentinformation.However,becausedrugsaffecteachpersondifferently,wecannotguaranteethatthisinformationincludesallpossiblesideeffects.Thisinformationisnotasubstituteformedicaladvice.Alwaysdiscusspossiblesideeffectswithahealthcareproviderwhoknowsyourmedicalhistory.Hydralazine mayinteractwithothermedicationsHydralazineoraltabletcaninteractwithothermedications,herbs,orvitaminsyoumightbetaking.That’swhyyourdoctorshouldmanageallofyourmedicationscarefully.Ifyou’recuriousabouthowthisdrugmightinteractwithsomethingelseyou’retaking,talktoyourdoctororpharmacist.Note:Youcanreduceyourchancesofdruginteractionsbyhavingallofyourprescriptionsfilledatthesamepharmacy.Thatway,apharmacistcancheckforpossibledruginteractions.Examplesofmedicationsthatcaninteractwithhydralazinearelistedbelow.DepressionmedicationsMonoamineoxidaseinhibitors(MAOIs)canincreasetheeffectsofhydralazine.Thisraisesyourriskofsideeffects,suchasverylowbloodpressure(hypotension).Thesedrugsinclude:isocarboxazidphenelzinesulfatetranylcyprominesulfateselegilineDiazoxideinjectionThisdrugcancauseaseveredropinbloodpressurewhenusedwithhydralazine.Disclaimer:Ourgoalistoprovideyouwiththemostrelevantandcurrentinformation.However,becausedrugsinteractdifferentlyineachperson,wecannotguaranteethatthisinformationincludesallpossibleinteractions.Thisinformationisnotasubstituteformedicaladvice.Alwaysspeakwithyourhealthcareprovideraboutpossibleinteractionswithallprescriptiondrugs,vitamins,herbsandsupplements,andover-the-counterdrugsthatyouaretaking.HydralazinewarningsThisdrugcomeswithseveralwarnings.AllergiesHydralazinecancauseasevereallergicreaction.Symptomscaninclude:troublebreathingswellingofyourthroatortonguehivesDon’ttakethisdrugagainifyou’veeverhadanallergicreactiontoitbefore.Takingitagaincouldbefatal(causedeath).AlcoholinteractionTheuseofdrinksthatcontainalcoholcanincreasethebloodpressure-loweringsideeffectsfromhydralazine.Ifyoudrinkalcohol,talktoyourdoctor.WarningsforcertaingroupsForpeoplewithheartproblems:Usethisdrugwithcautionifyouhaveheartproblems.Hydralazinemaycauseaheartattack,especiallyifyoualreadyhaveheartissues.Besuretotellyourdoctoraboutyourheartconditionbeforetakinghydralazine.Forpregnantwomen:HydralazineisacategoryCpregnancydrug.Thatmeanstwothings:Researchinanimalshasshownadverseeffectstothefetuswhenthemothertakesthedrug.Therehaven’tbeenenoughstudiesdoneinhumanstobecertainhowthedrugmightaffectthefetus.Tellyourdoctorifyou’repregnantorplantobecomepregnant.Hydralazineshouldbeusedduringpregnancyonlyifthepotentialbenefitjustifiesthepotentialrisktothefetus.Forwomenwhoarebreastfeeding:Smallamountsofhydralazinemaypassintobreastmilk.However,thisdrugdoesn’ttypicallycausesideeffectsinachildwhoisbreastfed.Ifyoubreastfeedyourbaby,talktoyourdoctoraboutthesafetyofthisdrug.Forseniors:Olderadultsmayprocessdrugsmoreslowly.Anormaladultdosemaycauselevelsofthisdrugtobehigherthannormalinyourbody.Ifyou’reasenior,youmayneedalowerdoseoradifferentschedule.Forchildren:Thisdrughasn’tbeenstudiedinchildrenyoungerthan18years,butithasbeenusedinchildren.Howtotake hydralazineAllpossibledosagesandformsmaynotbeincludedhere.Yourdose,form,andhowoftenyoutakeitwilldependon:youragetheconditionbeingtreatedhowsevereyourconditionisothermedicalconditionsyouhavehowyoureacttothefirstdoseDosageforhighbloodpressure(hypertension)GenericForm:oraltabletStrengths:10mg,25mg,50mg,and100mgAdultdosage(ages18–64years)Startingdosage:10mgtakenbymouth4timesperdayfor2–4daysDosageadjustments:Yourdoctormayslowlyincreaseyourdoseupto50mgtaken4timesperday.Childdosage(ages1–17years)Startingdosage:0.75mgperkgofbodyweightperdaytakenbymouthinfourdivideddosesDosageadjustments:Yourdoctormayslowlyincreaseyourdoseover3–4weeks.Maximumdosage:7.5mgperkgofbodyweightor200mgperdayNote:Thisdrughasn’tbeenstudiedinclinicaltrialsforchildrenyoungerthan18years,butithasbeenusedinchildren.Seniordosage(ages65yearsandolder)Therearenospecificrecommendationsforseniordosing.Olderadultsmayprocessdrugsmoreslowly.Anormaladultdosemaycauselevelsofthisdrugtobehigherthannormalinyourbody.Ifyou’reasenior,youmayneedalowerdoseoradifferentschedule.Disclaimer:Ourgoalistoprovideyouwiththemostrelevantandcurrentinformation.However,becausedrugsaffecteachpersondifferently,wecannotguaranteethatthislistincludesallpossibledosages.Thisinformationisnotasubstituteformedicaladvice.Alwaysspeakwithyourdoctororpharmacistaboutdosagesthatarerightforyou.TakeasdirectedHydralazineisusedforlong-termtreatment.Itcomeswithseriousrisksifyoudon’ttakeitasprescribed.Ifyoudon’ttakeitatallIfyoudon’ttakehydralazineasprescribedbyyourdoctor,yourbloodpressuremaystayhigh(hypertension).Thisincreasesyourchanceofhavingastrokeandheartattack.IfyoustoptakingitsuddenlyDon’tstoptakinghydralazinesuddenly.Doingsomayleadtouncontrolledhighbloodpressure.Thiscanputyouatahigherriskforheartproblems,suchaschestpainoraheartattack.Ifyouneedtostoptakingthisdrug,yourdoctorwillslowlydecreaseyourdoseovertwoweeks.Ifyoudon’ttakeitonscheduleNottakingthisdrugonschedulecanputyouatahigherriskforheartproblems,suchaschestpainorheartattack.WhattodoifyoumissadoseIfyouforgettotakeyourdose,takeitassoonasyouremember.Ifit’sjustafewhoursuntilthetimeforyournextdose,thenwaitandonlytakeonedoseatthattime.Nevertrytocatchupbytakingtwodosesatonce.Thiscouldcausetoxicsideeffects.IfyoutaketoomuchYoumayhaveseveresideeffects,suchas:verylowbloodpressure(hypotension)irregularheartrateheadacherednessandwarmthtoyourskin(flushing)heartattackshockIfyouthinkthatyou’vetakentoomuchhydralazine,callyourdoctororgototheemergencyroomrightaway.HowtotellthisdrugisworkingYoumaybeabletotellifthisdrugisworkingifyourbloodpressuregoesdown.Yourdoctorwillalsomonitoryourbloodpressuretomakesurethatthismedicationisworkingforyou.ImportantconsiderationsfortakinghydralazineKeeptheseconsiderationsinmindifyourdoctorprescribeshydralazineforyou.GeneralTakethisdrugatthetime(s)recommendedbyyourdoctor.Youcancutorcrushthetablet.Hydralazinecanbetakenwithorwithoutfood.Youshouldtrytostayconsistentinhowyoutakethisdrug.Ifyouusuallytakeitwithfood,alwaystakeitwithfoodandviceversa.Thiswillhelpreduceyourriskofsideeffects.Takinghydralazinewithfoodcanincreasethelevelofthedruginyourbloodstream.Thismayraiseyourchanceforsideeffectssuchasanexcessivedropinbloodpressureordizziness.StorageStorehydralazineatroomtemperaturebetween68°Fand77°F(20°Cand25°C).Don’tfreezethismedication.Don’tstorethismedicationinmoistordampareas,suchasbathrooms.RefillsAprescriptionforthismedicationisrefillable.Youshouldnotneedanewprescriptionforthismedicationtoberefilled.Yourdoctorwillwritethenumberofrefillsauthorizedonyourprescription.TravelWhentravelingwithyourmedication:Alwayscarryitwithyouorinyourcarry-onbag.Don’tworryaboutairportX-raymachines.Theycan’thurtyourmedication.Youmayneedtoshowairportstaffyourpharmacy’slabeltoclearlyidentifythemedication.Keeptheoriginalprescriptionlabelwithyouwhentraveling.Don’tputthismedicineinthecar,especiallywhenthetemperatureishotorfreezing.Self-managementYoumayneedtocheckyourbloodpressureandheartrateathome.Youshouldkeepalogwiththedate,timeofday,andyourbloodpressurereadings.Bringthisdiarywithyoutoyourdoctorappointments.Youmayalsoneedtobuyyourownbloodpressuremonitoringmachine.Theseareavailableforpurchaseatmostpharmacies.ClinicalmonitoringBeforestartingandduringyourtreatmentwithhydralazine,yourdoctormaycheckyour:bloodpressurebloodteststocheckforsideeffectsfromthedrugArethereanyalternatives?Thereareotherdrugsavailabletotreatyourcondition.Somemaybemoresuitableforyouthanothers.Talktoyourdoctoraboutpossiblealternatives.Disclaimer:Healthlinehasmadeeveryefforttomakecertainthatallinformationisfactuallycorrect,comprehensive,andup-to-date.However,thisarticleshouldnotbeusedasasubstitutefortheknowledgeandexpertiseofalicensedhealthcareprofessional.Youshouldalwaysconsultyourdoctororotherhealthcareprofessionalbeforetakinganymedication.Thedruginformationcontainedhereinissubjecttochangeandisnotintendedtocoverallpossibleuses,directions,precautions,warnings,druginteractions,allergicreactions,oradverseeffects.Theabsenceofwarningsorotherinformationforagivendrugdoesnotindicatethatthedrugordrugcombinationissafe,effective,orappropriateforallpatientsorallspecificuses.LastmedicallyreviewedonSeptember2,2015MedicallyreviewedbyCreightonUniversity,CenterforDrugInformationandEvidence-BasedPractice—WrittenbyUniversityofIllinois—UpdatedonFebruary16,2018relatedstoriesOxycodonevs.OxyContinWhatIsMulungu?Benefits,Uses,andSideEffectsAbout3GramsaDayofOmega-3FattyAcidsMayLowerBloodPressurePrehypertension:WhyIt’saWarningSignNottoIgnore8BloodPressureMonitorstoUseatHomeReadthisnextOxycodonevs.OxyContinMedicallyreviewedbyAlanCarter,Pharm.D.OxyContinistheextended-releaseformofoxycodone.We’llhelpyoucomparehowthesedrugstreatpain,whattheirsideeffectsare,andmore.READMOREWhatIsMulungu?Benefits,Uses,andSideEffectsWrittenbyRyanRaman,MS,RDMulunguisatreenativetoBrazilthatmayoffervariouspotentialhealthbenefits.Thisarticleexploresmulungu'sbenefits,uses,andpotential…READMOREAbout3GramsaDayofOmega-3FattyAcidsMayLowerBloodPressureExpertssaythebestwaytoaddomega3fattyacidstoyourdietistoeatfishsuchassalmonandtuna,althoughsupplementationcanbebeneficialREADMOREPrehypertension:WhyIt’saWarningSignNottoIgnoreMedicallyreviewedbyKevinMartinez,M.D.Prehypertensionisthestagebetweennormalbloodpressureandhypertension.It’sasignthatyou’reatriskfordevelopinghighbloodpressurewhich…READMORE8BloodPressureMonitorstoUseatHomeMedicallyreviewedbyDeborahWeatherspoon,Ph.D.,MSNHere’sourlistofeightgreatbloodpressuremonitorsforuseathome,tipsontakingaccuratereadings,andhowtousethem.READMOREHowObesityCanIncreaseYourRiskforHypertension(andWhatYouCanDoAboutIt)MedicallyreviewedbyAngelicaBalingit,MDObesityhaslongbeenlinkedwithanincreasedriskofhypertension.Learnaboutwhatcausesthisandhowtotreatobesity-inducedhypertension.READMOREWhatIsLowReninHypertension?MedicallyreviewedbyAngelicaBalingit,MDLowlevelsoftheenzymereninmaybebehindyourhighbloodpressure.Learnaboutlowreninhypertension,itscauses,subtypes,andhowtotreatit.READMOREWhattoKnowAboutFlyingwithHighBloodPressureMedicallyreviewedbyAviVarma,MD,MPH,AAHIVS,FAAFPAirtravelwhenyouhavehighbloodpressurecouldleadtocertaincomplications.Understandtherisks,andlearnsometipstohelpyouhaveasafe…READMOREIsHighBloodPressureGenetic?UnderstandingFamilialHypertensionMedicallyreviewedbyMeredithGoodwin,MD,FAAFPIsitpossibleforhypertensiontobehereditary?Howcommoncanhypertensionbeinafamily?Wediscussthepossibilityofhypertensionbeinggenetic.READMOREAllAboutSildenafilforPulmonaryHypertensionMedicallyreviewedbyEloiseTheisen,RN,MSN,AGPCNP-BCSildenafilisaprescriptiondrugthat’susedtotreatpulmonaryhypertension.Itworksbywideningthebloodvesselstothelungs,whichincreases…READMORE