Hydralazine causes dilation of the walls of blood vessels and is sometimes used to treat hypertension.

 

Interaction

Substance: Vitamin B6

Effect: Supplementation Likely Helpful

Hydralazine is known to deplete the blood of vitamin B 6. Taking B 6 supplements may prevent or reverse side effects of the medication.1,2

Interaction

Substance: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Effect: Supplementation Possibly Helpful

There is some evidence that hydralazine might impair the body's ability to manufacture the substance coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10).3 This suggests (but definitely does not prove) that taking CoQ 10 supplements may produce a beneficial effect.

Interaction

Substance: Coleus forskohlii

Effect: Theoretical Interaction

The herb Coleus forskohlii relaxes blood vessels and might have unpredictable effects if combined with hydralazine.

 

References

1. Shils M, et al. (eds.). Modern nutrition in health and disease, 9th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1999: 1634.

2. Goodman L and Gilman A. The pharmacological basis of therapeutics, 9th ed. Hardman J, et al (eds.). New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996: 1562.

3. Kishi H, et al. Bioenergetics in clinical medicine. III. Inhibition of coenzyme Q 10 -enzymes by clinically used anti-hypertensive drugs. Res Commun ChemPathol Pharmacol 12(3): 533–40, 1975.

Last reviewed December 2015 by EBSCO CAM Review Board