2. What should I know before I take ALPHAPRESS?
Do not take if you have ever had an allergic reaction to ALPHAPRESS or any of the
ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with ALPHAPRESS and affect how it works.
4. How do I take ALPHAPRESS?
The usual starting dose is 25 mg twice a day. Your doctor may increase your dose depending
on how you respond to this medicine.
Swallow the tablets with a glass of water.
5. What should I know while taking ALPHAPRESS?
|
Things you should do
|
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking
this medicine.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
If you are going to have surgery, including dental surgery, tell your surgeon, anaesthetist
or dentist that you are taking this medicine.
|
|
Things you should not do
|
Do not take ALPHAPRESS to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you
to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as
you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
|
|
Driving or using machines
|
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how ALPHAPRESS
affects you.
|
|
Drinking alcohol
|
Be careful drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine.
|
|
Looking after your medicine
|
Store below 25°C. Protect from light.
Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them.
|
6. Are there any side effects?
Less serious side effects include: dizziness, headache, flushing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, blocked nose, irregular
heartbeat. Serious side effects include: chest pain, allergy symptoms, skin rash, itching or hives, muscle aches, painful swollen
joints, joint pain, fever and shortness of breath, swelling of the feet or legs due
to fluid build-up or passing little urine or no urine.
Active ingredient(s):
hydralazine hydrochloride
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about taking ALPHAPRESS. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about taking ALPHAPRESS.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I taking ALPHAPRESS?
ALPHAPRESS contains the active ingredient hydralazine hydrochloride.
ALPHAPRESS is used to lower high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. It is normally used together with other medicines for high blood pressure.
This medicine works by widening the blood vessels so that blood passes through them
more easily. This helps to lower blood pressure.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed
for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
There is no evidence that ALPHAPRESS is addictive.
2. What should I know before I take ALPHAPRESS?
Warnings
Do not take ALPHAPRESS if:
you are allergic to any medicine containing hydralazine hydrochloride or any of the
ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Some of the symptoms of an allergic
reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can take this medicine.
you have:
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
certain heart conditions such as heart failure, narrowing of the valves in the heart
or swelling around the heart
a very fast, irregular or pounding heartbeat
a condition called dissecting aortic aneurysm where there is swelling and weakening
of a large blood vessel
thyrotoxicosis (an overactive thyroid gland)
the expiry date printed on the pack has passed or if the packaging is torn or shows
signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Check with your doctor if you:
take any medicines for any other condition
have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes
have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
heart failure, coronary heart disease such as angina or a recent heart attack, or
any other heart problem
stroke or any other problems with poor blood flow to the brain
kidney problems
liver problems
Your doctor may want to take special care if you have any of these conditions.
plan to have surgery.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start
taking ALPHAPRESS.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
ALPHAPRESS may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or wish to breastfeed.
The active ingredient in ALPHAPRESS passes into breast milk and there is a possibility
that your baby may be affected.
Use in children
Do not give this medicine to children.
Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with ALPHAPRESS and affect how it works. These include:
medicines used to treat high blood pressure or heart conditions such as beta-blockers
(e.g. propranolol, metoprolol); ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers
diuretics, also called fluid or water tablets
monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants, which are medicines used
to treat depression
medicines used to treat certain mental and emotional conditions such as schizophrenia
adrenaline, a medicine used in emergency situations or to treat a severe allergic
reaction
These medicines may be affected by ALPHAPRESS or may affect how well it works. You
may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or
avoid while taking this medicine.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect ALPHAPRESS.
4. How do I take ALPHAPRESS?
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist
for help.
How much to take
The usual starting dose is 25 mg twice a day.
Your doctor may increase your dose depending on how you respond to this medicine.
When to take ALPHAPRESS
Take your medicine at about the same time each day.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you
remember when to take it.
How to take ALPHAPRESS
Swallow the tablets with a glass of water.
How long to take ALPHAPRESS for
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
This medicine helps to control your condition, but does not cure it. It is important
to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well.
If you forget to take ALPHAPRESS
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next
dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine
as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some
hints.
If you take too much ALPHAPRESS
If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much ALPHAPRESS, urgent medical
attention may be needed.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling 13 11 26) for advice, or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Symptoms of an overdose may include having a very fast or irregular heartbeat, chest
pain, sweating, feeling sick, dizzy or faint.
5. What should I know while taking ALPHAPRESS?
Things you should do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist
that you are taking ALPHAPRESS.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking
this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, including dental surgery, tell your surgeon, anaesthetist
or dentist that you are taking this medicine.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
You may need to have tests to check your blood and kidneys.
Things you should not do
Do not take ALPHAPRESS to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you
to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as
you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
If you stop taking it suddenly, your condition may worsen or you may have unwanted
side effects.
Things to be careful of
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get
up slowly.
Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or chairs, will help your
body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues
or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how ALPHAPRESS
affects you.
ALPHAPRESS may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people. If you have any
of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could
be dangerous.
Drinking alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Be careful drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine. If you drink alcohol,
dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.
Looking after your medicine
Store below 25°C. Protect from light.
Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the bottle they may not keep well.
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do
not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a- half metres above the ground is a good place
to store medicines.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to take this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you
are taking ALPHAPRESS.
This medicine helps most people with high blood pressure, but it may have unwanted
side effects in a few people.
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any
of them.
Less serious side effects
Serious side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What ALPHAPRESS contains
|
Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
|
hydralazine hydrochloride 25 mg or 50 mg
|
|
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
|
microcrystalline cellulose
pregelatinised maize starch
disodium edetate
sodium starch glycollate
colloidal anhydrous silica
purified talc
magnesium stearate
Opadry Pink OY-LS-34902 (ID 2948) [50 mg tablets only]
|
|
Potential allergens
|
sugars as lactose (50 mg tablets only)
trace quantities of sulfites.
|
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What ALPHAPRESS looks like
ALPHAPRESS 25 mg - 8 mm cream, flat bevelled edged tablet with a score mark on one side (AUST R 17575).
ALPHAPRESS 50 mg - 7 mm pink film coated normal convex tablet marked HE 50 on one side, G on reverse
(AUST R 60380).
Each bottle contains 100 tablets.
Who distributes ALPHAPRESS
Alphapharm Pty Ltd trading as Viatris
Level 1, 30 The Bond
30-34 Hickson Road
Millers Point NSW 2000
Phone: 1800 274 276
This leaflet was prepared in December 2025.
ALPHAPRESS™ is a Viatris company trade mark
ALPHAPRESS_cmi\Dec25/00