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Hydralazine vs. Monoket

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Hydralazine and isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket) are both medications that help relax blood vessels, but they are used for different conditions. Hydralazine is a vasodilator used to lower high blood pressure, while isosorbide mononitrate is a nitrate vasodilator used to prevent angina, a type of chest pain caused by heart disease. Hydralazine is available as a generic only, and can be taken orally as a tablet or as an injection, typically multiple times a day. In contrast, isosorbide mononitrate is available as both a brand-name medication and generic, and comes in immediate-release and extended-release oral forms, with the immediate-release taken twice daily and the extended-release taken once daily. Common side effects of hydralazine include headache and a fast heart rate, while isosorbide mononitrate may cause headaches and dizziness. Both medications can lead to low blood pressure when combined with blood pressure medications. Isosorbide mononitrate can also cause low blood pressure when taken with erectile dysfunction medications.

Hydralazine

 

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isosorbide mononitrate

 

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Summary for Hydralazine

Prescription only

Hydralazine is a medication that's used to lower blood pressure. It's less commonly used for blood pressure, but it can be helpful when other first-choice medications aren't working. The dosage varies quite a bit; not everyone will take the same dose, but this medication is typically taken a few times a day. Common side effects include headache, stomach upset, and a fast heart rate. Hydralazine is available as a lower-cost generic tablet (there's no brand-name version).

Indications for Hydralazine

Pros and Cons for Hydralazine

Pros

  • Good option to lower blood pressure when other first-choice medications don't work
  • Can take with other blood pressure medications
  • Available as a lower-cost generic version

Cons

  • Need to take multiple times a day, which can be hard to remember
  • Might cause symptoms similar to lupus at higher doses
  • Shouldn't use if you have certain types of heart disease because there's a risk for heart attack

Common Side Effects for Hydralazine

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Lack or loss of appetite
  • Rapid or abnormal heartbeat
  • Chest pain

Warnings for Hydralazine

  • Drug-induced lupus-like symptoms
  • Blood problems
  • Numbness or tingling of feet and hands
  • Heart attack and effects on blood circulation

Summary for Monoket

Prescription only

Isosorbide mononitrate works well for adults who have a specific type of chest pain (called angina). This medication belongs to a drug class called nitrate vasodilators that helps relax your blood vessels. The immediate-release version (IR) is taken twice a day, usually 7 hours apart; whereas the extended-release version (ER) is taken once daily in the morning. Although isosorbide mononitrate doesn't have many side effects, you might have a headache or feel dizzy after you take the medication.

Indications for Monoket

Pros and Cons for Monoket

Pros

  • Can help prevent chest pain that's caused by heart disease
  • Available as a lower-cost generic version
  • Not known to affect the kidneys so people with kidney problems should be able to take the usual dose
  • Long-acting version (ER tablet) only needs to be taken once daily

Cons

  • Commonly causes headaches
  • Can cause dizziness, especially when you change positions
  • Shouldn't take erectile dysfunction medications, such as sildenafil (Viagra), because of risk of dangerously low blood pressure
  • Must take short-acting IR tablets on a very specific schedule for the medication to work best

Common Side Effects for Monoket

  • Headache (up to 57%)
  • Dizziness (up to 11%)

Warnings for Monoket

  • Low blood pressure
  • Tolerance to the medication

Prices with our coupons for Hydralazine vs. Monoket

Price Card Drug Icon
Hydralazine90 tablets / 25mg
$4.00$4.00
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Price Card Drug Icon
Isosorbide Mononitrate60 tablets / 20mg
$27.56$233.23
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