Hydralazine and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Ant...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Given this drug for high BP readings after taking steroids for an allergic reaction to Lisinopril. Worked great in lowering BP. Side effects have been awful. 25 mg 1 or 2 times a day. Taking Coreg and Verapamil plus a little diuretic. Extremely lightheaded, in a fog, confusion. I was clumsy, stumbling. Had vision problems. Actual blind spots. Flushing, restlessness, bad anxiety. It did its job but I was so freaked out with the way I was feeling. I worried BP may go too low. Horrible headaches, but to be fair, my BP was causing headaches. Cut pill in half. Symptoms improved. Tonight BP decent 142/87 so I didn’t take it. Just be aware of potential side effects. Going to keep an eye on everything as doctor still wants me to take it, but I don’t want to. I spent my nights with my heart pounding. Good luck to all. God bless."

• BBo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Doctor prescribed hydralazine in addition to other blood pressure meds. I have been experiencing palpitations, anxiety, joint pain, blurred vision, chills, and other 'anomalies'. Told my doctor about it, he had me do a stress test and wear a harness for two days. I think I'll take myself off of it, it hasn't lowered my BP that much. I think I would have better results with a stiff drink."

• pap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Have been taking for about two weeks. Yes, it does lower the blood pressure, but the side effects seem to be worse than the cure. Been experiencing muscle cramps, anxiousness, feet feel as if on fire, chest pressure, pain in shoulders, back, paresthesias in legs, arms, etc. I'm not sure what else it is causing, but perhaps the cure is worse than the disease. Why is it that every medication tends to be worse than the actual problem."

• pmb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Massive headache, though not migraine type. Actually mimicked a horrible sinus headache. (And yes, I am sure that it was not a sinus headache.) Light and sound were intolerable. Increased my anxiety. Made me so tense my neck was hurting. I also take amlodipine besylate 10 mg with no side effects. It just doesn't lower my BP low enough. Mine tops out over 230/150 regularly, it only brings it down to 160/90. (Too bad I can't just take more.) I've tried HCTZ - constantly needed to urinate. Lisinopril - body ached all over. Losartan - migraine type headache. Why can't they make something that doesn't hurt us? I have no symptoms of high blood pressure. It's more like a rush. I'll be damned if I'll take something that makes me hurt to make it better!"

• Edd...
• June 27, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have hypertension. I have been taking a combination of amlodipine/benazepril. While this has been somewhat effective, my doctor also prescribed 50 mg of hydralazine twice a day. This medication has shot my pulse up to very high levels three times, most recently from 77 to 105 this morning. While it has reduced my blood pressure slightly, it is not worth the shaking, difficulty urinating, feelings of anxiety, and headache side effects. I almost checked myself into the emergency room two nights ago. I tested withholding the medication, and I am sure it is the hydralazine. I checked, and many people, especially men over the age of 60, suffer side effects like this."

• Hel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I have taken only one 25 mg hydralazine, and blood pressure is going up, not down. Have vomited 3 times. Just feel funny and off. There seems to be a lot of anxiety with this drug. Very anxious 8 hours after taking the first dose. Just praying it stops soon. I can't handle it. Cold, then hot. Chills. This is miserable. Not going to take it anymore."

• Rdu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was on hydralazine for just less than a month. Started at 10 mg and increased to 50 mg 3 times per day. The side effects were mild to start, so because I had had a mastectomy a month prior, I blew the side effects off. Finally, with the increase in the dose, I couldn’t discount the extreme shortness of breath, throat swelling, heart rate in the low 100s at rest in a recliner, chest pain, and feet and ankle swelling. Of course, anxiety considering what was happening. Stopped the medication, and in 24 hours was better. Took about 10 days to get back to baseline. Was put on irbesartan and no more side effects, and blood pressure is under control."