@stuffy In addition to my regular am and pm blood pressure meds I take hydralazine in the evenings if I watch shows or books I find exciting. Not needed if I watch a Hallmark channel or a comedy. Game of Thrones was responsible for my first ER trip with BP 210/95 even taking my normal BP meds, atenolol am and pm, valsartan am and amlodipine pm. I've been told to take a hydralazine (10 mg (same med they give kids with ADD or ADHS and flat lines all emotions) before reading or watching anything exciting to prevent spikes. I check my BP every evening before bed and may need to take an additional hydralazine. My bottle reads I can take 1-3 daily.,if my BP is over 130. In my case I know when my BP is up because I have pulsative tinnitus and when my pulse is up I hear the beat loudly in my left ear.
So one hydralazine does help to prevent spikes, but often additional hydralazine pill or pills is needed. if I get excited. I've ever noticed any side effects,
The only one of my BP meds with negative side effects is the nasty calcium channel blocker Amlodipine. A low dose of 5 mg causes no edema in me but I have to take a higher dose 10 mg and it causes painful edema.
I developed high BP at at age 50 and it has gradually worsened to my current age of 77. I never had to take a calcium channel blocker until 2 years ago.
Also for those that can spike as high as I do, get a PX of Clonidine. for blood pressure over 180. After 3 ER trips I got this PX and haven't had an ER trip for high BP in 4 years. Beats sitting in an ER at midnight to 6 am waiting to be admitted because the ER is full. Clonidine is what they give you in the ER and works for me within 30 minutes. I am to take it if my BP gets over 180 which has happened only once since I have had hydralazine 10mg (1-3 daily) added to my extensive list of BP meds. Best to avoid Clonidine unless absolutely necessary because of the negative zombie making side effect.