Side Effects

Hydralazine may lower blood pressure, which may cause symptoms of dizziness, weakness, fainting, or fluid retention. People whose blood pressure is low when they start therapy will generally be started with a low dose and may need close monitoring to avoid reducing blood pressure too much. Hydralazine may also result in an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness of arms or legs; irregular or very fast heartbeat; new or chest pain or chest pain getting worse; or fainting.

ACE inhibitor side effects may include:

• Dry cough.
• Rash or itching.
• Symptoms that are like allergy symptoms.
• Allergic reaction with generalized swelling (angioedema) or, in rare cases, swelling of the upper airway.
• Excess potassium in the body (hyperkalemia), especially in people with kidney failure.

ACE inhibitors may interact with anti-inflammatory medicines, antacids, potassium supplements, certain diuretics, and lithium.

ARB side effects may include:

• Diarrhea.
• Stomach problems.
• Muscle cramps.
• Back and leg pain.
• Dizziness.
• Insomnia.
• Nasal congestion.
• Sinus problems.
• Upper respiratory infection.

Nitrate side effects may include:

• Feeling of pulsating fullness in the head (most common side effect), which can also cause headache.
• Drop in blood pressure, which can cause dizziness.
• Burning sensation under the tongue (with sublingual nitroglycerin).

Nitroprusside is generally only used for acute mitral regurgitation in the hospital. If nitroprusside is used, you are closely watched, because this medicine may cause severe low blood pressure.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)