Hydralazine

Use of hydralazine in pregnancy, before the third trimester should be avoided but the drug maybe employed in later pregnancy if there is no safer alternative or when the disease itself carries serious risks for the mother or child e.g. pre-eclampsia and/or eclampsia.

No serious adverse effects in human pregnancy have been reported to date with hydralazine, although experience in the third trimester is extensive.

Hydralazine passes into breast milk but reports available so far have not shown adverse effects on the infant. Mothers in whom use of hydralazine proves unavoidable may breast feed their infant provided that the infant is observed for possible adverse effects.

Hydralazine may impair the patient’s reactions especially at the start of the treatment. The patient should be warned of the hazard when driving or operating machinery.