Hydralazine: What to Know Before You Take It
Also known as Apresoline
A patient-focused safety profile with information from public regulatory sources.
In plain language
What Hydralazine is used for
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Essential hypertension, alone or as an adjunct.
Read before you decide
Risks and precautions
Risks and warnings
WARNINGS In a few patients hydrALAZINE may produce a clinical picture simulating systemic lupus erythematosus including glomerulonephritis. In such patients hydrALAZINE should be discontinued unless the benefit-to-risk determination requires continued antihypertensive therapy with this drug. Symptoms and signs usually regress when the drug is discontinued but residua have been detected many years later. Long-term treatment with steroids may be necessary. (See PRECAUTIONS, Laboratory Tests .)
Who should not take it
CONTRAINDICATIONS Hypersensitivity to hydrALAZINE; coronary artery disease; mitral valvular rheumatic heart disease.
Medication review
Hydralazine drug interactions
FDA safety data
Most-reported side effects
Based on 29,495 FAERS reports. Reports do not prove the drug caused the effect.
Regulatory record
FDA recalls (3)
CGMP Deviations: Products were exposed to temperatures outside of the products labeled storage conditions.
Recalling firm: CARDINAL HEALTHCARE
Temperature Abuse: Certain pieces of these lots distributed by McKesson Medical Surgical Inc. were inadvertently stored refrigerated rather than the labeled room temperature recommendation.
Recalling firm: Mckesson Medical Surgical
Incorrect Expiration Date: The "11/06" expiration date printed on the tray (secondary packaging) is incorrect (it should be 11/2016)
Recalling firm: Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC
Common questions
Patient questions
What is Hydralazine prescribed for?
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Essential hypertension, alone or as an adjunct.
What are the key warnings and safety precautions for Hydralazine?
WARNINGS In a few patients hydrALAZINE may produce a clinical picture simulating systemic lupus erythematosus including glomerulonephritis. In such patients hydrALAZINE should be discontinued unless the benefit-to-risk determination requires continued antihypertensive therapy with this drug. Symptoms and signs usually regress when the drug is discontinued but residua have been detected many years later. Long-term treatment with steroids may be necessary. (See PRECAUTIONS, Laboratory Tests .)
Does Hydralazine interact with other medications or foods?
Hydralazine has 1 documented drug interaction(s) and 0 food interaction(s) in clinical databases. Always provide your complete medication list to your clinician.
This information is educational — not medical advice.
This page is provided for general educational purposes and summarizes publicly available data from sources such as the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. It is not a substitute for the judgment of a licensed clinician and should not be used to start, stop, or change any medication. It may be incomplete or out of date, and individual circumstances vary. Always talk with your prescriber or pharmacist about your specific medications and health conditions. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.