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alosetron vs hydralazine

Side-by-side comparison of alosetron and hydralazine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Although not studied with alosetron, inhibition of N-acetyltransferase may have clinically relevant consequences for drugs such as isoniazid, procainamide, and hydralazine.

Recommendation: Talk to your doctor about monitoring your blood pressure and watching for any new symptoms.

Drug Class
alosetron 5-HT3 Antagonist (IBS-D)
hydralazine Vasodilator
Type
alosetron Prescription
hydralazine Prescription
Summary
alosetron

Alosetron (Lotronex) is a medicine for women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It helps to reduce diarrhea and stomach pain.

hydralazine

Hydralazine is a drug that lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. It can be used alone or with other medications.

What It Treats
alosetron

Alosetron is used to treat severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women. It is for women whose IBS symptoms have lasted for 6 months or longer. You should have already ruled out other possible causes of your symptoms. This medicine is only for you if other treatments have not worked well enough.

hydralazine

Hydralazine is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It can be used by itself or with other blood pressure medicines. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.

How It Works
alosetron

Alosetron blocks a substance called serotonin in your gut. Serotonin can speed up bowel movements. By blocking serotonin, alosetron slows down your bowel and reduces diarrhea.

hydralazine

Hydralazine works by relaxing the muscles in your blood vessels. This allows blood to flow more easily. As a result, your blood pressure goes down.

Common Side Effects
alosetron
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal discomfort and pain
  • Nausea
  • Gastrointestinal discomfort and pain
hydralazine
  • Headache
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
FAERS Reports
alosetron
  • Diarrhea 10
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 8
  • Stomach pain 6
  • Death 6
  • Having trouble passing stool 5
hydralazine
  • Long-term kidney disease 2,819
  • Sudden kidney damage 2,616
  • Kidney failure 2,097
  • Final stage of kidney failure 1,585
  • Tiredness 1,541
Serious Warnings
alosetron

Alosetron can cause serious gut problems, like ischemic colitis (reduced blood flow to the bowel) and severe constipation. These problems can lead to hospitalization, surgery, or even death. Stop taking alosetron right away if you get constipated or have symptoms of ischemic colitis, like bloody diarrhea or bad stomach pain. Call your doctor immediately.

hydralazine

Taking high doses of hydralazine can cause a drug-induced lupus erythematosus (L.E.) cell syndrome. Your doctor will monitor your dose to avoid this.

Pregnancy
alosetron

It is not known if alosetron can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if alosetron passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take alosetron.

hydralazine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if hydralazine will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking hydralazine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare hydralazine with

How to Read This alosetron vs hydralazine Comparison

alosetron is classified in the 5-HT3 Antagonist (IBS-D) drug class, while hydralazine sits within the Vasodilator class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, alosetron has 35 submissions while hydralazine has 10,658. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to alosetron may interfere with the way your body processes hydralazine, potentially leading to higher drug levels.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between alosetron and hydralazine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.