drug-information.ru

|Hydralazine

Hydralazine

Hydralazine is used for:

Treating severe high blood pressure in patients who cannot take Hydralazine by mouth or when the need to lower blood pressure is urgent. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Hydralazine is a vasodilator. It works by relaxing and dilating (opening) the blood vessels in the body, allowing blood to flow through the vessels more easily and at a lower pressure.

Do NOT use Hydralazine if:

• you are allergic to nitrates or to any ingredient in Hydralazine
• you have problems with the blood vessels of your heart (coronary artery disease) or certain heart valve problems (mitral valvular rheumatic heart disease)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Hydralazine :

Some medical conditions may interact with Hydralazine . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have blood problems (eg, porphyria), blood vessel problems, heart problems, low blood pressure, low levels of vitamin B₆ in your blood, kidney problems, or lupus
• if you have a history of stroke

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Hydralazine . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Medicines that may affect your blood vessels, medicines that treat high blood pressure (eg, diazoxide), or other vasodilators (eg, isosorbide, nitroglycerin) because the side effects of Hydralazine may be increased. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may affect your blood vessels.
• Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (eg, phenelzine) because the risk of serious side effects may be increased
• Beta-blockers (eg, propranolol) because their side effects may be increased by Hydralazine
• Epinephrine because its effectiveness may be decreased by Hydralazine

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Hydralazine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Hydralazine :

Use Hydralazine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Hydralazine is usually administered as an injection at your doctor"s office, hospital, or clinic. If you are using Hydralazine at home, carefully follow the injection procedures taught to you by your health care provider.
• If Hydralazine contains particles or is discolored, or if the vial is cracked or damaged in any way, do not use it.
• Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and away from pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Dispose of properly after use. Ask your pharmacist to explain local regulations for proper disposal.
• If you miss a dose of Hydralazine , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use this medicine.

Important safety information:

• Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Hydralazine . Using Hydralazine alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Hydralazine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Alcohol, hot weather, exercise, fever, low fluid intake, excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea can increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Also, sit or lie down at the first sign of dizziness, lightheadedness, or weakness. If fainting occurs, notify your doctor as soon as possible.
• Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Hydralazine .
• LAB TESTS, including complete blood counts, blood pressure, and antinuclear antibody titers, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Hydralazine with caution in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant while taking Hydralazine , discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Hydralazine during pregnancy. It is unknown if Hydralazine is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Hydralazine , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Hydralazine :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; decreased or difficult urination; depression; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; joint pain; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or leg; numbness or tingling of the skin; persistent fatigue or weakness; severe or persistent headache or dizziness; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision changes; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center ( http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; flushing; severe headache; shock.

Hydralazine is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Hydralazine at home, store Hydralazine as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Keep Hydralazine out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Hydralazine , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Hydralazine is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Hydralazine . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.