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Drug interactions

Hydralazine + Levodopa

Severity: Moderate

Hydralazine and Levodopa: 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

Levodopa can cause orthostatic hypotension, which may add to the blood pressure lowering effect of hydralazine. Patients may develop dizziness or falls, especially when starting or increasing levodopa.

What this interaction means in plain words

Hydralazine and Levodopa 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.

Hydralazine belongs to Cardiovascular; Levodopa belongs to Central Nervous System.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Additive hypotensive effects from dopamine formed from levodopa, which causes vasodilation and reduced sympathetic tone.

What to do

Monitor sitting and standing blood pressure when levodopa is started or increased. Reduce the hydralazine dose if symptomatic hypotension occurs.

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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Hydralazine with Levodopa?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydralazine and Levodopa 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. Levodopa can cause orthostatic hypotension, which may add to the blood pressure lowering effect of hydralazine. Patients may develop dizziness or falls, especially when starting or increasing levodopa.

How serious is the interaction between Hydralazine and Levodopa?

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 sitting and standing blood pressure when levodopa is started or increased. Reduce the hydralazine dose if symptomatic hypotension occurs.

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.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.

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