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Can Hydralazine cause sinus congestion, headache, chills and dizziness?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I just started taking Hydralazine 25 mg three times a day yesterday. Today, I started feeling jittery with a very bad sinus pressure and a headache. My blood pressure is down to 115/75 after being at 145/93. My heart rate has increased to 90. I feel very cold like I have a fever, and a little dizzy as well. Could this be due to my medication or do I have a virus? I am also on Quinapril 40 mg twice a day and Amlodipine besylate 10 mg once a day.

Answered by Dr. Satpute Ganeshkumar Suresh

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

  • Yes, these are the side effects of Hydralazine. In my opinion, 25 mg thrice a day is a high dose. The tachycardia and dizziness are also because of excess diuresis by Hydralazine. Discuss with your doctor regarding changing the dose to 25 mg once a day.
  • Take plenty of water with a little salt, or take an oral rehydrating solution (ORS) containing electrolytes. You will get relieved within 48 hours after stopping Hydralazine.

For further queries consult an internal medicine physician online

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

I have some Xanax 0.5 mg that I do not take regularly. Can I take it to help with jitters or will that lower my BP too much? The headache and nasal congestion are really bad. Is there anything I can take until this wears off? I took Hydralazine this morning. So, I will not take it again until I talk to my doctor tomorrow.

Answered by Dr. Satpute Ganeshkumar Suresh

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

  • You can take tablet Xanax 0.5 mg. It will not lower your blood pressure but will decrease your heart rate.
  • For the headache and nasal congestion, you can take, tablet Sumo cold (a combination of Cetirizine, Paracetamol, and Phenylephrine) or tablet Sinarest (a combination of Paracetamol, Caffeine, and Phenylephrine).

For more information consult an internal medicine physician online

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

Are the sinus congestion and headache also due to the medicine? Do you have any suggestions for lowering my BP? The Quinapril and Amlodipine seem to have no impact. I have been exercising more, but that does not seem to help either. My BP was about the same before and after increasing the Quinapril and Amlodipine.

Answered by Dr. Satpute Ganeshkumar Suresh

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

  • The headache is due to Hydralazine, but the sinus congestion may not be due to that. I think you should wait until the effect of the tablet wears off.
  • Regarding your blood pressure, you should take tablet Metoprolol 50 mg extended release tablet in the morning, if there are no contraindications and you can continue taking Quinalapril in the evening.
  • Exercise is definitely key to reduce your blood pressure. Also, take a low salt diet. Your goal should be to maintain your BP below 140/90, rather than expecting it to reach 120/80.

For more information consult an internal medicine physician online

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

Are chills a side effect of the medicine? The reason I ask is I may have two things going on. Chills are really bad, but I was not sure if that is part of the sinus issue or medicine. My daughter had a cold with a sinus problems earlier in the week. Sinus discharge is clear. So, it does not seem like an infection. She had some chills, but it did not seem to be as bad as what I am experiencing.

Answered by Dr. Satpute Ganeshkumar Suresh

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

  • The chills may be less likely due to a sinus infection, and more likely because of an excess diuresis due to Hydralazine.
  • Clear discharge can be present in a viral infection. So, you can start above mentioned tablets. If you still get the chills and sinus discharge 24 hours after starting the tablets, then you may need to take antibiotics.

For more information consult an internal medicine physician online

Answered byDr. Satpute Ganeshkumar Suresh

Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team

Published At July 14, 2017
Reviewed AtApril 24, 2025

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Satpute Ganeshkumar Suresh
Dr. Satpute Ganeshkumar Suresh

Internal Medicine

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