Hydralazine and Fatigue: 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."

• Joa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 29, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was on Hydralazine for high blood pressure for a few years. My blood pressure was being controlled. Then, I started experiencing rapid heart rate, hearing my heart thumping loudly through my ear when my head was placed on a pillow and in my back when lying down, joint pains, swollen ankles, legs, and feet, fatigue, outdoor light intolerance, leg cramps, and itching. My doctor stopped the medication and ordered labs. Everything came back elevated. My ANA and Uric acid were all up in addition to other tests done. I was diagnosed with medication-induced lupus because of this drug. It is a bad drug. I am now a lot better, most of these symptoms are gone or getting better. My labs will be rechecked in a couple of months. Fortunately for me, mine was caught before I had to be hospitalized like some of the other readers."

• gri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Hydralazine did lower my BP, but it was slowly killing me. Side effects included: low energy, nauseous, no appetite, weight loss, major joint pain/swelling, Swelling of lower legs. I thought I had Lyme disease and was tested for it. All I wanted to do was sleep! I could barely move. Doctors told me it couldn't be this drug, but I stopped taking it anyway, and felt better almost immediately. A nurse told me I was allergic to it."

• Dai...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 26, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "On hydralazine 50 mg twice a day, with some Afib issues, but not a big problem. BP is still high anyway. Mitral valve replacement surgery in April, recovery seemed slow, then nausea, Afib, fast heart rate, dizziness, and fatigue getting worse and worse in May and June. I asked the doctor to reduce the dose, the more it was reduced, the better I felt. Now the doctor says I can reduce the dose to 25 mg once a day for 2 weeks, and then hooray, I'm off the medication. I just saw on the internet that hydralazine is contraindicated for mitral valve malfunction caused by rheumatic disease, and that's exactly what I have. I wonder why I was ever put on this medication. It caused the most unpleasant symptoms I've ever had, which were very depressing."

• 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."