Home > Drugs and Supplements > Hydralazine
Printer friendly viewPrint
Bookmark and Share

PubMed Health. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

AHFS Consumer Medication Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; 2000-2011.

AHFS Consumer Medication Information.

Hydralazine(hye dral' a zeen)

Last Revision: August 1, 2010.

Why is this medication prescribed?

Hydralazine is used to treat high blood pressure. It works by relaxing the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily through the body.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How should this medicine be used?

Hydralazine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken two to four a day at evenly spaced intervals. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take hydralazine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Hydralazine controls high blood pressure but does not cure it. Continue to take hydralazine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking hydralazine without talking to your doctor.

Other uses for this medicine

Hydralazine is also used after heart valve replacement and in the treatment of congestive heart failure. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking hydralazine,

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to hydralazine, aspirin, tartrazine (a yellow dye in some processed foods and medications), or any other drugs.

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially indomethacin (Indocin), metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal), and vitamins.

  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, kidney or liver disease, or a heart attack.

  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking hydralazine, call your doctor.

  • if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking hydralazine.

  • ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while you are taking hydralazine. Alcohol can make the side effects from hydralazine worse.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Take hydralazine with meals or a snack.

Your doctor may prescribe a low-salt or low-sodium diet. Follow these directions carefully.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Hydralazine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • flushing (feeling of warmth)

  • headache

  • upset stomach

  • vomiting

  • loss of appetite

  • diarrhea

  • constipation

  • eye tearing

  • stuffy nose

  • rash

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

  • fainting

  • joint or muscle pain

  • unexplained fever

  • rapid heartbeat

  • chest pain

  • swollen ankles or feet

  • numbing or tingling in hands or feet

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

What other information should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your blood pressure should be checked regularly to determine your response to hydralazine.

Your doctor may ask you to check your blood pressure daily. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to teach you how.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information is not a substitute for medical care.

AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2011. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.

The following brand names are from RxNorm, a standardized nomenclature for clinical drugs produced by the National Library of Medicine:

Brand names

  • Apresoline

Brand names of combination products

  • Bidil (containing Hydralazine and Isosorbide Dinitrate)

  • Diuretic Ap-Es (containing Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine)

  • HHR (containing Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine)

  • Hydrap-ES (containing Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine)

  • Marpres (containing Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine)

  • Ser-Ap-Es (containing Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine)

  • Serathide (containing Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine)

  • Serpazide (containing Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine)

  • Serpex (containing Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine)

  • Tri-Hydroserpine (containing Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine)

  • Uni Serp (containing Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine)

  • Unipres (containing Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine)

What works?

  • Hydralazine for treatment of high blood pressure Hydralazine for treatment of high blood pressure
    Hydralazine has been used for the treatment of high blood pressure since the 1950's. It is believed that hydralazine reduces blood pressure, however there are concerns due to the potential for this drug to cause adverse effects. The aim of this review was to determine the extent to which hydralazine reduces blood pressure, the nature of hydralazine’s adverse effect profile, and to determine the clinical impact of its use for hypertension. Unfortunately, the search revealed no randomized controlled trials which compared hydralazine to placebo as monotherapy for primary hypertension, therefore we are unable to make firm conclusions regarding its effects on blood pressure, adverse effects, or clinical outcomes. Some of the adverse effects related to hydralazine and that have been reported in the literature include reflex tachycardia, hemolytic anemia, vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, and a lupus‐like syndrome.
See all (4)...

In the news

  • Image for UK NHS headline Clot risk of contraceptive patch examined
    11 May 2012
    “Women using a vaginal ring or skin patch for contraception are at around double the risk of a blood clot compared to those taking the Pill,” says the Daily Mail. The news is based on a large Danish ...
more...

Conditions of interest

  • Drug-induced hypertension
    Drug-induced hypertension is high blood pressure caused by using a chemical substance, drug, or medication.
  • Hypertension
    Hypertension is the term used to describe high blood pressure.
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
    Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a long-term autoimmune disorder that may affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs.
  • Heart failure
    Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body.
  • Preeclampsia
    Preeclampsia is when a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure and protein in the urine after the 20th week (late 2nd or 3rd trimester) of pregnancy.

Recent activity

Clear Turn Off Turn On

Your browsing activity is empty.

Activity recording is turned off.

Turn recording back on

See more...
You are here: NCBI > Literature > PubMed Health
Write to the Help Desk