Hydralazine Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide
Hydralazine is a high blood pressure medication. The initial hydralazine dosage is often around 10 mg four times a day, but it may increase as treatment progresses.
hydralazine
Used for Hypertension
Used for Hypertension
Hydralazine is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure, though it's not as commonly prescribed anymore. As a vasodilator, it relaxes blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. It comes as an oral tablet that's typically taken four times a day, either alone or with other blood pressure medications. Common side effects include headache, nausea, and vomiting.
What is Hydralazine?
What is Hydralazine used for?
How Hydralazine works
Hydralazine is a vasodilator. The exact way it works isn't fully understood. But it's thought to relax the muscles around your arteries, causing the blood vessels to widen. This lowers the pressure in your blood vessels and helps blood flow more easily.
When does Hydralazine start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Apresoline |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Vasodilator |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Hydralazine
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Reduced appetite
- Fast heartbeat
Less Common Side Effects
- Constipation
- Tingling, burning, or numbness in hands or feet
- Flushing
- Difficulty urinating
- Rash
- Swelling
Hydralazine serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Lupus-like condition: joint or muscle pain, fever, chest pain, tiredness, swelling
- Heart problems: chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, pain
When do Hydralazine possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Headache
Fast heartbeat
More on Hydralazine side effects
The following Hydralazine side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Arm, back, or jaw pain
chest pain or discomfort
chest tightness or heaviness
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
shortness of breath
sweating
Less common
Black, tarry stools
blindness or vision changes
blisters on the skin
blurred vision
burning of the face or mouth
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, painful, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
chills
clumsiness or unsteadiness
confusion
difficult or labored breathing
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
fever and sore throat
general feeling of discomfort or illness or weakness
joint pain
lower back or side pain
numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
skin rash or itching
swelling of the feet or lower legs
swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
tightness in the chest
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
ulcers, sores, or white spots in the mouth
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
weakness in hands or feet
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Feeling of warmth
headache
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
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GoodRx discount
$4.00
Pros and cons of Hydralazine
Pros
- Option to lower blood pressure when other first-choice medications don't work
- Can take alone or with other blood pressure medications
- Available in different strengths
Cons
- Typically needs to be taken 4 times a day
- Can cause headache, nausea, or a fast heartbeat
- Might cause symptoms similar to lupus at higher doses
Pharmacist tips for Hydralazine
- Take hydralazine exactly as prescribed. You’ll typically take it several times a day, so an alarm or pill organizer can help you remember your doses.
- You can take hydralazine with food or without food, but be consistent. Food can raise the amount of medication in your blood, so switching between taking it with and without food could change how it affects you.
- Check your blood pressure at home while taking hydralazine. Keep a record of your readings so your care team can tell whether your dose needs to be adjusted.
- Hydralazine can cause your blood pressure to drop when you stand up, making you feel dizzy or lightheaded. Get up slowly from sitting or lying down, and tell your care team if these symptoms don't improve.
- Hydralazine can cause reflex tachycardia, which is when your heart beats faster in response to lower blood pressure. Tell your care team if you have a fast or pounding heartbeat, dizziness, or chest pain. Get medical help right away for fainting or severe chest pain.
- Tell your prescriber if hydralazine causes fever, a rash on your cheeks, or joint or muscle pain. These could be lupus-like symptoms, and your prescriber might recommend a different blood pressure medication.
- Avoid or limit alcohol while taking hydralazine because it can increase side effects such as dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, or fainting. Ask your prescriber whether it's safe for you to drink alcohol during treatment.
- Keep up with recommended blood tests while taking hydralazine. Rarely, it can lower your red or white blood cell levels, which can cause tiredness, dizziness, or a higher risk of infection.
- Tell your care team about all medications you take because hydralazine can interact with other medications. Blood pressure medications such as amlodipine or metoprolol can lower your blood pressure further, while NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can make it harder to control your blood pressure.
Risks and warnings for Hydralazine
Hydralazine can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Lupus-like symptoms
Hydralazine can rarely cause symptoms that are similar to lupus. These can include fever, joint or muscle pain, and rash. In some cases, kidney problems can also happen.
Tell your care team if you develop possible lupus-like symptoms. You might need to stop hydralazine, and symptoms usually improve after stopping the medication.
Heart and blood pressure problems
- Risk factors: Coronary artery disease | History of stroke | Heart valve problems | Serious kidney problems
Hydralazine can make your heart work harder and beat faster. This can cause or worsen chest pain (angina) and, rarely, lead to a heart attack. It can also cause your blood pressure to drop when you stand up, making you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
Tell your prescriber about any heart, blood vessel, or kidney problems before starting hydralazine. Get medical help right away if you develop severe chest pain, fainting, or other serious symptoms.
Nerve problems
Hydralazine can sometimes cause nerve problems, with symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or a "pins and needles" feeling. This might happen because the medication can affect how your body uses vitamin B6. Tell your care team if you develop these symptoms. They might recommend taking a vitamin B6 supplement.
Low blood cell levels
Hydralazine can rarely lower certain blood cell levels, including red and white blood cells. This can lead to problems such as anemia, a higher risk of infection, or unusual bruising or bleeding.
Tell your care team if you develop unusual tiredness, frequent infections, fever, or unexplained bruising or bleeding. You might need blood tests, and hydralazine should be stopped if serious blood cell problems develop.
Hydralazine dosage
The average cost for 90 tablets of 25mg of Hydralazine is $4.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 0.00% off the average retail price of $4.00. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg | 90 tablets | $4.00 | $0.04 |
| 25mg | 90 tablets | $4.00 | $0.04 |
| 100mg | 90 tablets | $16.11 | $0.18 |
| 50mg | 90 tablets | $4.00 | $0.04 |
Typical dosage for Hydralazine
The typical starting dose is slowly raised during the first few weeks of treatment:
- Days 1 to 2 (or up to Day 4 if needed): Take 10 mg by mouth four times a day.
- Rest of Week 1: Take 25 mg by mouth four times a day.
- Week 2 and after: Take 50 mg by mouth four times a day.
Your prescriber will work with you to find the lowest dose that controls your blood pressure. The maximum dose is 300 mg per day.
Hydralazine also comes as an injection that's given into a vein or muscle by a healthcare professional.
More on Hydralazine dosage
Interactions between Hydralazine and other drugs
Hydralazine may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Hydralazine. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Hydralazine cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Hydralazine (generic)
$4.00
Hydralazine contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Hydralazine will not be safe for you to take.
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Mitral valvular rheumatic heart disease (heart valve condition)
What are alternatives to Hydralazine?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Hydralazine. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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