Pronunciation: hye-DRAL-a-zeen
Generic Name: Hydralazine
Brand Name: Generic only. No brands available.
Hydralazine is used for:
Treating high blood pressure. It may be used alone or in combination with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Hydralazine is a vasodilator. It works by relaxing and dilating (opening) the blood vessels in the body, allowing blood to flow through the vessels more easily and at a lower pressure.
Do NOT use Hydralazine if:
- you are allergic to nitrates or to any ingredient in Hydralazine
- you have problems with the blood vessels of your heart (coronary artery disease) or certain heart valve problems (mitral valvular rheumatic heart disease)
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Hydralazine:
Some medical conditions may interact with Hydralazine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have blood problems (eg, porphyria), blood vessel problems, heart problems, low blood pressure, low levels of vitamin B6 in your blood, kidney problems, or lupus
- if you have a history of stroke
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Hydralazine. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Medicines that may affect your blood vessels, medicines that treat high blood pressure (eg, diazoxide), or other vasodilators (eg, isosorbide, nitroglycerin) they may increase the risk of Hydralazine's side effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may affect your blood vessels.
- Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (eg, phenelzine) because the risk of serious side effects may be increased
- Beta-blockers (eg, propranolol) because their risk of side effects may be increased by Hydralazine
- Epinephrine because its effectiveness may be decreased by Hydralazine
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Hydralazine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Hydralazine:
Use Hydralazine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Take Hydralazine by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
- Take Hydralazine on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it. Taking Hydralazine at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
- Continue to use Hydralazine even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
- If you miss a dose of Hydralazine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Hydralazine.
Important safety information:
- Hydralazine may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Hydralazine with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Hydralazine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Hydralazine before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- Lab tests, including complete blood counts and antinuclear antibody titers, may be performed while you use Hydralazine. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Hydralazine should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant while taking Hydralazine, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Hydralazine while pregnant. It is not known if Hydralazine is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Hydralazine, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of Hydralazine:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Diarrhea; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; decreased or difficult urination; depression; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; joint pain; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or leg; numbness or tingling of the skin; persistent fatigue or weakness; severe or persistent headache or dizziness; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision changes; yellowing of the eyes or skin.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Hydralazine side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; flushing; severe headache; shock.
Proper storage of Hydralazine:
Store Hydralazine at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Hydralazine out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Hydralazine, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Hydralazine is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Hydralazine. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Hydralazine resources
- Hydralazine Side Effects (in more detail)
- Hydralazine Dosage
- Hydralazine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Hydralazine Drug Interactions
- Hydralazine Support Group
- 1 Review for Hydralazine - Add your own review/rating
Compare Hydralazine with other medications
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- High Blood Pressure
- Hypertensive Emergency
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