A new spectrophotometric method for the assay of hydralazine hydrochloride in bulk and dosage forms has been developed. The procedure is based on a condensation reaction between alcoholic solution of hydralazine and acidic solution of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde to generate an instant greenish-yellow coloured product. The hydrazone formed absorbed visible light strongly and optimal detector response was obtained at a wavelength of 470 nm with a molar absorptivity of 3.652 ´ 10³ l mol^-1 cm^-1. Optimization of temperature and time revealed 30 ºC and 10 min as the best conditions for optimal color formation, while methanol was found to be the most suitable alcohol as diluting solvent. The reaction product is stable for at least 24 h. Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range of 2-10 μg ml^-1. Recovery studies over three days gave a mean recovery of 101.87% with a relative standard deviation of 1.29%. There was no interference from commonly used tablet excipients. There was no significant difference between the results obtained with the new method and the BP iodimetric method (p > 0.05). The proposed method is simple, sensitive, rapid and economical, and could find application as an in-process quality control method for hydralazine.  Hydralazine hydrochloride, p-Dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, Condensation, Alcohols, Spectrophotometry

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