What medication class does hydralazine belong to?

Hydralazine is classified as an antihypertensive medication. Its primary function is to lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels, allowing for easier blood flow. This vasodilatory effect makes it particularly useful in the management of hypertension and certain types of heart failure. As an arterial dilator, hydralazine works by directly affecting the smooth muscle in arterioles, leading to decreased peripheral resistance and subsequent reduction in blood pressure.

Other classes of medications listed, such as diuretics, antifungals, and antibiotics, serve different purposes and mechanisms of action; diuretics reduce fluid retention and lower blood pressure by increasing urine production, antifungals are used to treat infections caused by fungi, and antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections. None of these classes perform the specific function of directly lowering blood pressure through vasodilation, which substantiates hydralazine's classification as an antihypertensive.