Hydralazine (injection)

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Hydralazine
HYDRALAZINE tablet® FDA Package Insert
Indications and Usage
Dosage and Administration
Contraindications
Warnings
Precautions
Adverse Reactions
Drug Interactions
Use in Specific Populations
Overdosage
Description
Clinical Pharmacology
Nonclinical Toxicology
How Supplied/Storage and Handling
Labels and Packages
HYDRALAZINE injection® FDA Package Insert
Indications and Usage
Dosage and Administration
Contraindications
Warnings
Precautions
Adverse Reactions
Drug Interactions
Use in Specific Populations
Overdosage
Description
Clinical Pharmacology
Nonclinical Toxicology
How Supplied/Storage and Handling
Labels and Packages
Clinical Trials on Hydralazine
ClinicalTrials.gov

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

For patient information about Hydralazine, click here.

Synonyms / Brand Names: HYDRALAZINE®

Overview

Hydralazine (apresoline) is a direct-acting smooth muscle relaxant used to treat hypertension by acting as a vasodilator primarily in arteries and arterioles. By relaxing vascular smooth muscle, vasodilators act to decrease peripheral resistance, thereby lowering blood pressure and decreasing afterload.[1]

However, this only has a short term effect on blood pressure, as the system will reset to the previous, high blood pressure necessary to maintain pressure in the kidney necessary for natriuresis. The long term effect of antihypertensive drugs comes from their effects on the pressure natriuresis curve.

Category

Nonsympatholytic nitrovasodilators.

FDA Package Insert

HYDRALAZINE tablet®

Indications and Usage | Dosage and Administration | Contraindications | Warnings | Precautions | Adverse Reactions | Drug Interactions | Use in Specific Populations | Overdosage | Description | Clinical Pharmacology | Nonclinical Toxicology | How Supplied/Storage and Handling | Labels and Packages


HYDRALAZINE injecton®

Indications and Usage | Dosage and Administration | Contraindications | Warnings | Precautions | Adverse Reactions | Drug Interactions | Use in Specific Populations | Overdosage | Description | Clinical Pharmacology | Nonclinical Toxicology | How Supplied/Storage and Handling | Labels and Packages

Mechanism of Action

Although the precise mechanism of action of hydralazine is not fully understood, the major effects are on the cardiovascular system. Hydralazine apparently lowers blood pressure by exerting a peripheral vasodilating effect through a direct relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. Hydralazine, by altering cellular calcium metabolism, interferes with the calcium movements within the vascular smooth muscle that are responsible for initiating or maintaining the contractile state.[2]

References

  1. Harvey, Richard A., Pamela A. Harvey, and Mark J. Mycek. Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lipincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2000. 190.
  2. "HYDRALAZINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET [PLIVA INC.]". Retrieved 10 March 2014.