Hydralazine is a prescription medication indicated to help lower blood pressure levels in hypertensive patients. This medication is administered as an intravenous or intramuscular injection and works by relaxing the smooth muscles responsible for heart muscle contraction. Certain patients with high blood pressure should not used hydralazine. The contraindications for hydralazine should be reviewed with a medical professional before a patient begins treatment with this medication.
Coronary Artery Disease
Patients who have coronary artery disease should not take hydralazine, warn medical professionals with Drugs.com. Coronary artery disease, or CAD, is a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart are clogged or partially blocked by fatty deposits called plaques. Angina, or chest pain, is the most common symptom associated with CAD. Affected patients can experience unusual sensations of tightness, heaviness, numbness, burning or aching within the chest, explain medical experts with the Cleveland Clinic. Certain patients can also experience sensations of pain within the neck, jaw, back, or upper body. Patients who experience CAD symptoms should talk with a doctor before taking hydralazine.
Mitral Valvular Rheumatic Heart Disease
Mitral valvular rheumatic heart disease, also called mitral stenosis, is a contraindication for hydralazine, according to RxList. Mitral stenosis is a type of heart disease caused by rheumatic fever, a serious childhood illness. Patients with mitral stenosis have an abnormally narrow mitral valve, a specific valve within the heart. A narrowed mitral valve reduces the normal flow of blood to the heart. Though mitral stenosis rarely causes symptoms, certain patients can experience unusual heart palpitations or difficulty breathing, explain health professionals with The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Patients with mitral valvular rheumatic heart disease should not take hydralazine, as this medication can increase the risk of cardiac complications, such as heart failure.
Hypersensitivity to Hydralazine
Patients who are hypersensitive to hydralazine should not take this medication, explains Drugs.com. Hypersensitivity can increase a patient's risk of developing an allergic reaction after taking hydralazine. Patients who experience a hypersensitivity reaction to hydralazine can experience symptoms such as skin rash, fever, body aches, itching or chills, warns RxList. Without prompt medical treatment, these hypersensitivity reaction symptoms can cause life-threatening medical complications in affected patients.
