Brand Name

Apresoline {Ciba-Geigy}

Generic Name

hydralazine, pronounced hye DRAL a zeen

What is Apresoline?

Apresoline is a medication to treat hypertension, or high blood pressure in adults. As avasodilator Apresoline works by relaxing the muscles in your blood vessels to help them dilate orwiden. This allows blood to flow more easily through your veins and arteries and lowers yourblood pressure.

Apresoline may also be used for purposes not described in this medication guide.

Key Facts About Apresoline

Apresoline is in FDA pregnancy category C. You should not use Apresoline if you are pregnant.Do not breast-feed while taking Apresoline, as this medication can pass into breast milk.

While you are taking Apresoline you should not drink alcohol. Because drinking alcohol canfurther lower your blood pressure you may experience an increase in certain side effects ofApresoline if you drink while taking this medication.

Continue to use Apresoline as your doctor has directed, and be sure to get your blood pressurechecked regularly.

Tell your doctor right away if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweatingmore than usual while you are taking Apresoline. It is easy to become dehydrated while takingApresoline, which can lead to extremely low blood pressure or a serious electrolyte imbalance.

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Before You Take Apresoline

If you are allergic to hydralazine, or if you have coronary artery disease, or rheumatic heartdisease that affects your mitral valve you should not take Apresoline.

If you have kidney disease, lupus, angina pectoris (chest pain), or if you have ever had astroke you should tell your doctor before taking Apresoline.

Until you know how you will react to Apresoline you should avoid getting up too fast from alying or sitting position, as you may experience dizziness. Be sure to get up slowly and steadyyourself to prevent a fall, especially when you first begin your treatment with Apresoline.

You need to be aware that certain conditions can cause low blood pressure, and make theeffects of Apresoline more pronounced for you. Tell your doctor right away if you experiencediarrhea, heart disease, intense sweating, vomiting, dialysis, or if you are on a low salt dietor taking diuretics (water pills).

You should tell your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects like fast orpounding heartbeats, swelling, numbness or tingling, dark-colored urine, joint pain, swellingwith a fever, chest pain, weakness or a tired feeling and urinating less than usual or not atall.

Apresoline Drug Interactions

You should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• diazoxide (Hyperstat, Proglycem)
• MAO inhibitors like isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect),selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) and tranylcypromine (Parnate)

Other drugs you take that are not listed may interact with Apresoline. You should tell yourdoctor about all of the medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, vitamins,supplements and herbal products, and over the counter medications. You should not begin taking anew medication without telling your doctor first.

Directions for Taking Apresoline

You should take Apresoline exactly as directed by your doctor . It is important that you donot take Apresoline in larger or smaller amounts, or for longer or shorter than recommended.Follow the directions on your prescription label and follow any dose changes carefully if yourdoctor instructs you to change your dose.

Apresoline should be taken at the same time every day, and with a full (8oz) glass ofwater.

Apresoline can be taken with or without food.

You may need to take Apresoline on a long-term basis for the treatment of high blood pressure.It is important that you follow up with your doctor on a regular basis to be sure that Apresolineis helping your condition and not causing you to have any adverse or harmful effects.

Apresoline should be stored at room temperature, and away from both moisture and heat.

If you miss a dose of Apresoline you should attempt to take the missed dose as soon as youremember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, or if your next dose isless than 12 hours away you should skip the dose you missed.

Apresoline Side Effects

If you experience any of the following adverse effects you should stop taking Apresoline andseek emergency medical help immediately.

• allergic reaction including hives, swelling in your face, lips, throat or tongue and troublebreathing
• burning pain or numbness and tingling
• confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior
• easy bruising
• faint feeling or lightheadedness with pale skin
• fast or pounding heartbeats
• swelling in your feet, hands or stomach
• urine that is dark in color
• urinating that is painful, less than normal or not at all
• weakness with joint pain and tired feeling

Less serious side effects of Apresoline may include:

• anxiety
• constipation
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• headache
• loss of appetite
• muscle or joint pain
• nausea
• rash and itching (mild)
• runny or stuffy nose
• vomiting

It should be noted that this is not a complete list of possible side effects of Apresoline.You should contact your physician for a complete list and medical advice regarding theseeffects.

Apresoline Description and Dosing

Apresoline is available in tablet form of 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg.

The 10 mg tablets are round, pale yellow, dry-coated and imprinted with CIBA 37.

The 25 mg tablets are round, deep blue, dry-coated and imprinted with CIBA 39.

The 50 mg tablets are round, light blue, dry-coated and imprinted with CIBA 73.

The 100 mg tablets are round, peach, dry-coated and imprinted with CIBA 101.

Consult with your doctor for specific dosing pertaining to you. Do not attempt to alter orchange your dose of Apresoline without your physician’s consent.

If you suspect that you have overdosed with Apresoline you should seek emergency helpimmediately.

Ingredients in Apresoline

Apresoline has the active ingredient hydralazine hydrochloride. Inactive ingredients includeAcacia, D&C Yellow No. 10 (10-mg tablets), FD&C Blue No. 1 (25-mg and 50-mg tablets),FD&C Yellow No. 5 and FD&C Yellow No. 6 (100-mg tablets), lactose, magnesium stearate,mannitol, polyethylene glycol, sodium starch glycolate, starch, and stearic acid.

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The information contained in this drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

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