Drug interactions
Ephedrine + Hydralazine
Severity: Moderate
Ephedrine and Hydralazine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Ephedrine raises blood pressure and heart rate and can counteract the antihypertensive effect of hydralazine. In practice this is often used deliberately to treat hypotension, but unexpected pressor responses or tachycardia can occur.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ephedrine and Hydralazine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Ephedrine belongs to Cardiovascular; Hydralazine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Ephedrine's direct and indirect adrenergic agonism opposes hydralazine arteriolar vasodilation.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure and heart rate and titrate ephedrine doses to effect. Review chronic use of ephedrine-containing products in hypertensive patients.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Hydralazine
- Amifostine + Hydralazine Major
- Aceclofenac + Hydralazine Moderate
- Acemetacin + Hydralazine Moderate
- Aldesleukin + Hydralazine Moderate
- Avanafil + Hydralazine Moderate
- Benzphetamine + Hydralazine Moderate
Other interactions of Ephedrine
- Ephedrine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ephedrine with Hydralazine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ephedrine and Hydralazine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Ephedrine raises blood pressure and heart rate and can counteract the antihypertensive effect of hydralazine. In practice this is often used deliberately to treat hypotension, but unexpected pressor responses or tachycardia can occur.
How serious is the interaction between Ephedrine and Hydralazine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood pressure and heart rate and titrate ephedrine doses to effect. Review chronic use of ephedrine-containing products in hypertensive patients.
What other medicines interact with Hydralazine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydralazine with, for example, Amifostine, Aceclofenac, Acemetacin. The full list is on the Hydralazine page.
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