Cardiovascular medications - vasodilators

Depletions

Taking hydralazine may deplete vitamin B6.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B6 is important for processing amino acids into important molecules in the body.

Low levels of vitamin B6 may cause any of the following symptoms:

• Depression
• Nervousness
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Failure to grow

Severe deficiency of vitamin B6 may cause numbness or tingling sensations in feet and toes.

Editorial Note

The information presented here covers some of the nutrients that may be affected when you take certain medicines. If you have any of these signs and symptoms, it does not always mean you have low levels of these nutrients.

Factors that affect the level of nutrients are:

• Your medical history
• Diet
• Lifestyle
• How long you have been taking the medicine

Please talk to your health care provider. They can best address your health care needs and see if you are at risk for low levels of any nutrients.

Supporting Research

Dominiczak MH, Broom JI. Vitamins and minerals. In: Baynes JW, Dominiczak MH, eds. Medical Biochemistry. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 11.

Gold Standard Drug Database. Drug Monograph: Alprostadil, 2016. www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/drug_monograph/6-s2.0-1184. Accessed July 14, 2016.

Gold Standard Drug Database. Drug Monograph: Hydralazine, 2015. www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/drug_monograph/6-s2.0-295. Accessed July 5, 2016.

Gold Standard Drug Database. Drug Monograph: Minoxidil, 2012. www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/drug_monograph/6-s2.0-408. Accessed July 14, 2015.

Gold Standard Drug Database. Drug Monograph: Nesiritide, 2012. www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/drug_monograph/6-s2.0-2134. Accessed July 14, 2015.

Gold Standard Drug Database. Drug Monograph: Nitroglycerine, 2015. www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/drug_monograph/6-s2.0-1416. Accessed July 14, 2016.

Gold Standard Drug Database. Drug Monograph: Nitroprusside, 2015. www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/drug_monograph/6-s2.0-440. Accessed July 14, 2015.

Gold Standard Drug Database. Drug Monograph: Riociguat, 2016. www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/drug_monograph/6-s2.0-3826. Accessed July 14, 2016.

Sachdev HPS, Shah D. Vitamin B complex deficiencies and excess. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 49.