Hydralazine and Pain: What Users Say

• den...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 24, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "This medication, hydralazine, almost killed me. Under the NIH SPRINT blood pressure study, I was prescribed a massive dosage of this drug, 300 mg, which I took for years, becoming more and more ill. I suffered from anorexia and lost over 20 pounds, suffered extreme fatigue, aches and pains, and in the last few months of usage, ran a daily fever of 100-101. It was like having the flu for months. I had thousands of dollars worth of tests in attempts to diagnose my problem which only made me feel worse. My daughter and 'Dr. Google' and I finally discovered the cause of my illness: Hydralazine-induced ANCA, a very serious autoimmune disease which caused vasculitis, inflamed blood vessels causing kidney disease. I stopped the hydralazine and most symptoms have improved. Beware this drug!"

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Dr. started me at 10 mg 2x daily for 2 weeks. BP went much higher. She upped dosage to 25 mg 3x day. Every day I felt worse and worse. Extreme fatigue, body aches, facial pain, and severe headache. Last night, my whole face became swollen, and I had anaphylaxis. ER doc said to quit taking it. Called my cardiologist at 8:30 am and left a message with the receptionist about what happened. Cardiologist never called me back. Just called in an Rx for Metoprolol tartrate 25 mg. I am upset with my cardiologist for not calling. My face is still swollen, severe headache, butterfly rash on face that feels hot, lips swollen, and jaw and neck pain. I think it was drug-induced lupus erythematosus. This drug should be pulled from the market. Too many people have bad reactions. I almost died from it, and I am still not out of the woods. You are not supposed to quit cold turkey."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Dr. started me at 10 mg 2x daily for 2 weeks. BP went much higher. She upped dosage to 25 mg 3x day. Every day I felt worse and worse. Extreme fatigue, body aches, facial pain, and severe headache. Last night, my whole face became swollen, and I had anaphylaxis. ER doc said to quit taking it. Called my cardiologist at 8:30 am and left a message with the receptionist about what happened. Cardiologist never called me back. Just called in an Rx for Metoprolol tartrate 25 mg. I am upset with my cardiologist for not calling. My face is still swollen, severe headache, butterfly rash on face that feels hot, lips swollen, and jaw and neck pain. I think it was drug-induced lupus erythematosus. This drug should be pulled from the market. Too many people have bad reactions. I almost died from it, and I am still not out of the woods. You are not supposed to quit cold turkey."

• 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!"

• Tya...
• January 5, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was in the hospital with unexplained and uncontrollable high BP. I was given this after an additional dose of one of my BP meds did not lower my readings. It was injected. It started with burning of my face and mouth and moved on to hives, cough, and side pain. All from 1 dose. Thankfully I was in the hospital and they were able to inject me with Benadryl. Yes, it was an allergic reaction, but you need to read all of them before taking this med."

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2021

Hydralazine for High Blood Pressure "This medication was awful. Within one day of taking it, I experienced pain in my back, hips, and legs, along with shortness of breath when trying to go on a walk. It was awful. I took it for about 10 days, then stopped. Side effects went away after about two days. I would rather die than take that drug again."

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2021

Hydralazine for High Blood Pressure "This medication was awful. Within one day of taking it, I experienced pain in my back, hips, and legs, along with shortness of breath when trying to go on a walk. It was awful. I took it for about 10 days, then stopped. Side effects went away after about two days. I would rather die than take that drug again."

• 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."

• roz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "This med lowered sodium level drastically, nauseated, dizzy, headache, pain in arms, freezing cold, tired. Ended up in hospital for IVs. Threw meds away!"