Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HYDRALAZINE HYDROCHLORIDE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Antihypertensive agent used in the treatment of moderate to severe hypertension usually in
conjunction with a beta- adrenoreceptor blocking agent and a thiazide diuretic. Normally
taken by mouth. Hydralazine is a vasodilator which acts predominantly on the arterioles.
Reduces blood pressure and peripheral resistance and produces fluid retention. Tachycardia
and an increase in cardiac output occur mainly as a reflex response to decreased
peripheral resistance. Improves renal and cerebral blood flow. A monoamine oxidase (MAO)
inhibitor.

SYNONYMS

C8-H8-N4.HCl, "hydralazine chloride", "hydralazine monohydrochloride", "hydrallazine
hydrochloride", "1-hydrazinophthalazine hydrochloride", "1-hydrazinophthalazine
hydrochloride", "1-hydrqzinophthalazine monohydrochloride", "1-hydrqzinophthalazine
monohydrochloride", "1(2H)-phthalazinone, hydrazone, hydrochloride", "1(2H)-
phthalazinone, hydrazone, monohydrochloride", Alphapress, Aiselazine, Appresinum,
Aprelazine, Apresazide, Apresine, "Apresolin Apresoline", Apresoline-Esidrex, "Apresoline
HCl", Apressin, "Apressoline Aprezolin", BA-5968, C-5968, Ciba-5968, Dralzine, "Hidralzin
Hydrapress", Hyperazin, Hyperazine, Hypophthalin, Hypos, Ipolona, Lopres, Lopress, "Nor-
Press 25", "Praparet 5968", Rolazine, "Serpasil Apresoline No. 2", Hipoftalin, "MAO
monoamine oxidase inhibitor/ antihypertensive"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.
Harmful to aquatic organisms.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Hydrazine (and some of its derivatives), is a strong convulsant in laboratory animals and can cause central nervous system (CNS) depression or stimulation. Symptoms of CNS depression may include nonspecific discomfort, giddiness, headache, dizziness, nausea, anaesthetic effects, slowed reaction time, slurred speech and may progress to unconsciousness. Serious poisonings may result in respiratory depression and may be fatal. CNS stimulation may produce dyspnea, coughing, bronchospasm, and laryngospasm. Muscular involvement may produce symptoms ranging from fasciculation to spasticity or seizures. Headache, dizziness and confusion may also result as can hyperpyrexia or a sensation of warmth. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and difficulty in urination. Cardiovascular involvement may produce alterations in blood pressure or arrhythmia.Pulmonary oedema and cardiovascular collapse also seem to be a feature of acute hydrazine poisonings. Animals that survive for more than a day frequently develop liver necrosis and renal failure. As judged by a few severe poisonings,  man reacts like monkey in the sense that liver injury is more severe than kidney failure. Severe hypoglycaemia may develop even earlier than liver necrosis although this is rarely mentioned in the literature.  Monoamine oxidase may produce nerve disorders (weakness and paralysis) inthe extremities.  Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) cause low blood pressure, dizziness, drowsiness, weakness and tiredness, dry mouth, constipation, other digestive disturbances (including nausea and vomiting) and swelling. Other symptoms include agitation and tremors, sleep disturbance, blurred vision, difficulty urinating, convulsions, skin rash, loss of white blood cells, sexual disturbances and weight gain. There may be psychiatric changes such as elevated mood, confusion and hallucinations, and there can also be jaundice and death of liver tissue. Symptoms may be delayed for several hours. Other effects include increased blood pressure, spasticity and brisk reflexes, sweating, elevated temperature, dilated pupils, urinary retention, convulsions and peripheral collapse. Severe and often fatal increases in blood pressure can occur if the MAOI is given at the same time as certain foods including cheese, broad beans, game, certain alcoholic beverages and other foods containing certain proteins. These reactions can cause severe headache, bleeding to the brain and acute heart failure.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.  

SKIN

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or skin irritation following contact (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of dusts, or fume, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled.  Symptoms of inhalation of hydrazine (and some of its derivatives), may include nausea and headache. Central nervous system (CNS) excitability may lead to convulsions and, in severe cases, respiratory arrest and death. Several instances of systemic poisoning, by hydrazine, have been reported in humans. These mainly involve the CNS, respiratory system and stomach. CNS stimulation may produce twitching of the extremities, clonic movements, hyperreflexia, convulsions and pyrexia; these may progress to lethargy, ataxia, confusion,  coma and hypotension.Oliguria, haematuria, hyperglycaemia and/ or hypoglycaemia and elevated LFTs are common. Leucocytosis, parasthaesia and peripheral neuropathies may be delayed for several days.Respiratory (and dermal) exposure may produce deficits in concentration, comprehension, memory, task performance and mood status.Irritation of the mucous membranes may produce rhinitis, salivation, coughing, choking and dyspnoea.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There has been concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations, but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  There is some evidence that inhaling this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray.  Hydrazine (and some of its derivatives), is a strong convulsant in laboratory animals and can cause central nervous system (CNS) depression or stimulation. Symptoms of CNS depression may include nonspecific discomfort, giddiness, headache, dizziness, nausea, anaesthetic effects, slowed reaction time, slurred speech and may progress to unconsciousness. Serious poisonings may result in respiratory depression and may be fatal. CNS stimulation may produce dyspnea, coughing, bronchospasm, and laryngospasm. Muscular involvement may produce symptoms ranging from fasciculation to spasticity or seizures. Headache, dizziness and confusion may also result as can hyperpyrexia or a sensation of warmth. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and difficulty in urination. Cardiovascular involvement may produce alterations in blood pressure or arrhythmia.Pulmonary oedema and cardiovascular collapse also seem to be a feature of acute hydrazine poisonings. Animals that survive for more than a day frequently develop liver necrosis and renal failure. As judged by a few severe poisonings,  man reacts like monkey in the sense that liver injury is more severe than kidney failure. Severe hypoglycaemia may develop even earlier than liver necrosis although this is rarely mentioned in the literature.  When administered orally, hydrazine induced pulmonary adenomas and adenocarcinomas in mice. Inhalation induced lung carcinomas and lymphosarcomas of the spleen in female mice. A study of 423 men, involved in the manufacture of hydrazine revealed three stomach, one prostate and a neurogenic cancer.  Prolonged use or large doses may produce toxic reactions resembling lupus erythematosus. The incidence is greater in slow acetylators. Rheumatic conditions usually disappear when the drug is withdrawn. Severe erythematous conditions have responded to corticosteroids.