Dihydralazine
About
Dihydralazine belongs to a group of medicines called 'antihypertensive' used alone or together with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), heart-related chest pain (angina), heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia) and preventing symptoms of migraine headache and tremors (fits). It affects our heart and blood circulatory system, especially controlling blood pressure through arteries and veins. High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. Lowering blood pressure may reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
Dihydralazine belongs to a class of drugs called ‘peripheral vasodilators’ which acts on the blood vessels directly and relaxes them, resulting in lowered blood pressure levels. Thus, it helps in reducing your risk of having a stroke, a heart attack, other heart problems, or kidney problems in the future. This medicine needs to be taken regularly to be effective.
Dihydralazine can be taken orally with or without food or as directed by your physician. Swallow the whole tablet with a glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break it. Dihydralazine is preferable to take at the same time every day for better results. Dihydralazine is generally safe to consume. You may have a common side like an abnormal heartbeat, headaches, low blood pressure, diarrhoea, and feeling sick and being sick. These side effects are usually mild and short-lived. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Don't stop taking $ name without talking to your doctor first. Stopping Dihydralazine gradually may cause changes in your heart rhythm and blood pressure, cause chest pain, or a heart attack. Your doctor will lower your dose gradually over a period of time to help prevent these symptoms. You should not use Dihydralazine if you have a very slow heartbeat, asthma, serious heart condition (sick sinus syndrome), or any heart blockage. It should not be given to the children less than 12 years of age. Before taking Dihydralazine, you should tell the doctor if you have any muscle disorder (myasthenia gravis, rhabdomyolysis), breathing problem (COPD, bronchitis, emphysema), low blood sugar level (hypoglycaemia), low blood pressure (hypotension), depression, previous heart failure, liver/kidney disease, thyroid hormone disorder, adrenal gland cancer, or problems with circulation (Raynaud’s syndrome).
Uses of Dihydralazine
Medicinal Benefits
Dihydralazine plays a vital role in relaxing the muscles in the walls of your blood vessels. This ensures that your blood vessels expand, reducing your blood pressure and allowing blood and oxygen to flow more easily throughout your body and helps in reducing your risk of having a stroke, a heart attack, other heart problems, or kidney problems in the future. This medicine needs to be taken regularly to be effective.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Dihydralazine
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Fast heart rate
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Don't stop taking $ name without talking to your doctor first. Stopping Dihydralazine gradually may cause changes in your heart rhythm and blood pressure, cause chest pain, or a heart attack. Your doctor will lower your dose gradually over a period of time to help prevent these symptoms. You should not use Dihydralazine if you have a very slow heartbeat, asthma, serious heart condition (sick sinus syndrome), or any heart blockage. Children weighing less than 4.5 pounds should not be given Dihydralazine. It should not be given to the children less than 12 years of age. Before taking Dihydralazine you should tell the doctor if you have any muscle disorder (myasthenia gravis, rhabdomyolysis), breathing problem (COPD, bronchitis, emphysema), low blood sugar level (hypoglycaemia), low blood pressure (hypotension), depression, previous heart failure, liver/kidney disease, thyroid hormone disorder, adrenal gland cancer, or problems with circulation (Raynaud’s syndrome).
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Dihydralazine may interact with antidiabetic (diazoxide), an antidepressant (isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine), antibiotic (phenelzine, linezolid), dye (methylene blue injection), antiparkinsonian (rasagiline, selegiline).
Drug-Food Interaction: Dihydralazine severely interact with grapefruit and protein-enriched foods. Using Dihydralazine together with ayurvedic, homoeopathy, Unani, herbal supplements, or any other OTC items may decrease the effects of Dihydralazine. Hence, it is better to maintain at least 2 hours gap between the administration of Dihydralazine and these products.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Dihydralazine should not be given to the people with bone marrow suppression (a decrease in bone marrow activity resulting in reduced production of blood cells), valve heart disease (a defect in one of the four heart valves), coronary artery disease, cerebral vasculopathy (inflammation of the blood vessel wall), lupus disease (an autoimmune disease), and kidney dysfunction.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Dihydralazine to avoid unpleasant side-effect of low blood pressure causing dizziness or drowsiness.
Pregnancy
cautionDihydralazine is a category C pregnancy drug. Dihydralazine is not recommended during pregnancy unless your doctor considers it essential. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you.
Breast Feeding
cautionTake Dihydralazine only when prescribed, it is known to pass on in a limited quantity via breast milk to the child. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you.
Driving
unsafeDihydralazine is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or to operate machinery. However, some people may occasionally feel dizzy or tired when taking Propranolol. If this happens to you, ask your doctor for advice.
Liver
cautionDihydralazine to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionDihydralazine to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
unsafeThe safety and efficacy of Dihydralazine in children have not been established. Dihydralazine is not recommended in children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep your weight under control with BMI 19.5-24.9.
- Do regular physical activity or exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, or about 30 minutes most days of the week. Doing this can help you to lower your raised blood pressure by about 5 mm of Hg.
- Option for a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, veggies and low-fat dairy products.
- Limit intake of sodium chloride (table salt) in your daily diet to 2300 mg per day or less than 1500 mg is ideal for most adults.
- If you are taking alcohol then only one serving for women and two servings for men is advisable.
- Quitting smoking is the best strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Avoid chronic stress as it can raise your blood pressure. Try to enjoy and spent time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Try to include heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acid containing food drinks in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oil like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and coconut oil can help in lowering your elevated blood pressure.
Special Advise
Monitor your blood pressure daily and if there is too much of fluctuation then immediately contact your doctor.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
High blood pressure: Blood pressure is the measurement of the force that our heart uses to pump blood to all parts of the body. Hypertension is a chronic condition when blood pressure and the workload of the heart is too high. This condition can lead to hardened arteries (blood vessels), decreasing the blood and oxygen flow to the heart. Raised blood pressure can cause chest pain (angina) and heart attack (when blood supply to the heart is blocked). Additionally, high blood pressure also causes brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. High blood pressure can be diagnosed with the help of a blood pressure monitor or sphygmomanometer. Systolic pressure is the pressure when the heart pumps blood out. On the other hand, diastolic pressure is the pressure when your heart is at the resting stage between heartbeats. If your blood pressure is 140/90 mm of Hg, it means the systolic pressure is 140 mm of Hg and, diastolic pressure is 90 mm of Hg. Ideal blood pressure should be between 90/60 mm of Hg and 120/80 mm of Hg.
FAQs
No, it is a prescribed drug, given by a physician for preventing specific medical conditions. Taking it on your own can cause unwanted side-effects.
Monitor Blood Pressure and pulse frequently during initial dose adjustment and periodically during therapy.
Overdose symptoms may cause hypotension (low blood pressure), tachycardia (increased heart rate), and dysrhythmias (irregular heart rate) and coma. Contact the doctor immediately.
Dihydralazine is in a class of medications called vasodilators or antihypertensive used to treat high blood pressure. It works by relaxing the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily through the body.
Dihydralazine should not be used if you are allergic to it or if you have coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure.
