Hydralazine
Generic Name: Hydralazine
Brand name: Apresoline
Indications
Apresoline is indicated for the treatment of essential hypertension, alone or as an adjunct.
Dosage and Administration
Apresoline is available as 10mg, 25mg, 50mg and 100mg tablets.
Normal Dosage:
Initiate therapy in gradually increasing dosages; adjust according to individual response. Start with 10 mg four times daily for the first 2-4 days, increase to 25 mg four times daily for the balance of the first week. For the second and subsequent weeks, increase dosage to 50 mg four times daily. For maintenance, adjust dosage to the lowest effective levels.
Overdose: Overdose symptoms include very low blood pressure (fainting, dizziness, confusion), an irregular heartbeat, headache, and flushing of the skin.
Drug Description
Apresoline, hydralazine hydrochloride USP, is an antihypertensive, available as 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-mg tablets for oral administration. Its chemical name is 1-hydrazinophthalazine monohydrochloride, and its structural formula is:
Hydralazine hydrochloride, USP is a white to off-white, odorless crystalline powder. It is soluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohol, and very slightly soluble in ether. It melts at about 275°C, with decomposition, and has a molecular weight of 196.84.
Side effects
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking this medication and seek immediate medical help:
- an allergic reaction
- numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness of your arms or legs
- irregular or very fast heartbeats
- new or worsening chest pain
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or is especially bothersome.
Precautions
- Do not take this medication if you have coronary heart disease or mitral valvular rheumatic heart disease.
- Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you:
- have kidney disease
- have systemic lupus erythematosus
- have had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke)
- have high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides (types of fat) in your blood
- have pulmonary hypertension
- This drug belongs to the class of the FDA pregnancy category C and this means that it is not known whether this medication will harm an unborn baby. Do not take without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
- Avoid alcohol or use it cautiously during treatment. Alcohol may increase dizziness, which could be dangerous
Drug Interactions
Before taking hydralazine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- diazoxide (Hyperstat, Proglycem)
- A MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
