Hydralazine

Hydralazine hydrochloride (1 -hydrazinophthalazine monohydrochloride; Apresoline®) is a medication used to treat high blood pressure. A vasodilator, hydralazine works by relaxing blood vessels (arterioles more than venules) and increasing the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload. It is commonly used in the condition of pregnancy called preeclampsia.

Administration

Oral, in tablets and suspension, or intravenous. In most adults, oral doses range from 40 mg to 200 mg a day, divided in 2 to 4 doses, while intravenous doses range from 5 to 40 mg, repeated as necessary.

Patients given hydralazine over a period of six months or more may develop a lupus-like syndrome or other immune related diseases that generally are reversible with withdrawal. Hydralazine is differentially acetylated by fast and slow acetylator phenotypes thus incidence of lupus-like disease in slow acetylators.

Side effects

Common side effects include:

diarrhoea

Rapid heartbeat

Headache

Loss of appetite

Nausea or vomiting

Pounding heartbeat

Drug-induced lupus

Clinics & treatments

Medic8® Guides

Health centres

Medic8 subscribes to the HONcode principles of the Health On the Net Foundation.