Hydralazine — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
Direct arteriolar vasodilator
👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team
🕐 Updated 2026-07-11
🏷️ Pharmacological Therapies
🔖 Free to read, print, and share
💡
Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Hydralazine on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
🩺
- Severe HTN, HTN in pregnancy
- Dilates arterioles → ↓ afterload
- Reflex tachycardia, palpitations
- Headache, flushing, hypotension
- Lupus-like: joint pain, rash, fever
- Chest pain, HR > 100
- Caution in CAD → ↑ O2 demand
- Often paired w/ beta-blocker
- Take with food, rise slowly
- Monitor BP & HR, daily weight
✨Quick Tip
Directly relaxes arteriolar smooth muscle, lowering blood pressure and afterload.
Related Pharmacological Therapies cheat sheets