Serious Side Effects Of Vasodilators

Nausea And Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting may occur in individuals who take vasodilators, particularly those who are too sensitive to the dilation effects of the drug and experience the malfunction of a reflex called the baroreceptor-mediated reflex. This reflex is meant to quickly act upon changes in blood pressure to maintain a homeostatic state, like when an individual stands up. However, this reflex does not work properly in some patients when they take vasodilators, which can cause them to experience low blood pressure upon standing their body is unable to correct quick enough. This process causes a reduction in blood delivery to the individual's brain tissues, which can cause lightheadedness and dizziness. An affected individual can become nauseated as a result of the dizziness they experience with orthostatic hypertension, or it could be a result of the inappropriate activation of the vomiting center in their brain. The mechanical action of vomiting is simply the result in some individuals who feel nauseous because of these vasodilator-precipitated malfunctions.