Hydralazine and Chest Pain: What Users Say

• Dar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I had A-Fib and hypertension. I went for an angiogram and a stent was placed in one artery. Afterwards, my BP spiked. They are giving me 4 different BP meds plus Crestor, Plavix, and Xarelto, but my BP was still 170/80! They tell me that they are going to add one more BP drug to work on that top number...Hydralazine. After the second 20 mg dose, I had a really bad reaction. My BP went from 170/80 to 210/100. I am short of breath, tight-chested, experiencing numbness in my right hand, and my vision in my right eye was failing. I thought that I was stroking out. My wife is an RN, she calmed me down and convinced me I was having a drug reaction."

• Tir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 27, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking hydralazine for two weeks. My heart rate is higher, I'm always tired. My heart is pounding in my chest, I have chest pains. My feet and hands are swollen. I have an awful headache all the time. I just feel awful. My blood pressure is not much better. I quit taking it a couple of days ago and already feel a little better. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone. I thought it was just me till I read this article."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 15, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "My blood pressure numbers run high. I was given Hydralazine 25 mg 3 times a day, then increased to 50 mg. This medication gave me the worst headache, blurred vision, dizziness, dry mouth, chest pains, very tired. It dropped my blood pressure some but not enough to continue taking this drug. I am going back to the doctor to get something else. It had me in bed and sitting for most of the day, totally out of it. Made me feel like I was tired. This medication is not worth taking."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I was started on Hydralazine 25 mg twice daily in mid-Feb, following high BP readings. In early March, I was experiencing shortness of breath, but at the time, it was attributed to a lung issue rather than a heart issue. I also started to get tiny blisters all over my body, horrible pain in one arm, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, and a feeling of heaviness in my chest. When the blister issue got worse, I decided to research my new meds. Among the top side effects are the ones I just listed. I agree with a previous reviewer, one must self-advocate when taking a medication."

• 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."

• Kik...
• January 13, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I took hydralazine 50 mg on January 11, 2017. It felt like someone had given me a shot of morphine. This med messed me up. My heart rate was 122, my chest hurt, and I had difficulty breathing. I was dizzy, tired, and sleepy and immediately called my cardiologist and reported my side effect. I was told to take 50 mg of metoprolol so it would lower my heart rate. My legs and arm muscles hurt, and I will never take this medication again."

• Ohh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 19, 2022

For Hypertensive Emergency "Second time on this drug. Had a hypertension crisis. They gave it to me at the hospital. Called the cardiologist the following morning and guess what, he put me on this AGAIN, three times a day along with losartan and carvedilol. OMG. I have horrible headaches that get worse the more I take. It took me a month to level out enough to sleep, still have bad nights. Clumsy, chest pain, swollen painful joints in hands, feel like I have a sinus infection and sore throat all the time, horrible sensitivity to sunlight, face feels like I do nothing but squint. Constantly gassy stomach and flatulence."

• Anonymous
• June 30, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "After taking this medication, I got extremely sick. I started having chest pains, stuffy nose so bad I could barely breathe, constant headaches, swollen eyes, horrible cough. Couldn’t climb the stairs from my basement without lying down. Couldn’t sleep. At first, I thought I had COVID, so I took a test, it came back negative. When I stopped taking this medication, these symptoms didn’t start until I started taking this medication. All the symptoms started to fade away immediately. This medication will lower your blood pressure if you can tolerate the above."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2012

For High Blood Pressure "I was hospitalized after taking the first dose (25mg). I had severe chest pain, left arm pain, and dizziness. After all testing, the cardiologist determined the medication caused the above effects."