nitroglycerin (oral/buccal/sublingual/spray) Health Article

Generic name(s):

nitroglycerin (oral/buccal/sublingual/spray)

Brand name(s):

nitroglycerin, Nitrolingual, Nitroquick, Nitrostat

What is the most important information I should know about nitroglycerin?

Do not use nitroglycerin if you are taking sildenafil (Viagra). Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take nitroglycerin while you are using sildenafil.

Nitroglycerin can cause severe headaches, especially when you first start using it. These headaches may gradually become less severe as you continue to use nitroglycerin. Do not stop taking the medication. Ask your doctor before using any headache pain medication.

What is nitroglycerin?

Nitroglycerin is in a group of drugs called nitrates. Nitroglycerin dilates (widens) blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow through them and easier for the heart to pump.

Nitroglycerin is used to treat or prevent attacks of chest pain (angina).

Nitroglycerin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking nitroglycerin?

Do not use nitroglycerin if you are taking sildenafil (Viagra). Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take nitroglycerin while you are using sildenafil. You should not use this medication if you are allergic to nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur), or isosorbide dinitrate (BiDil, Isordil), or if you have:

• early signs of a heart attack (chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling);

• severe anemia (a lack of red blood cells); or

• a brain injury, hemorrhage, or tumor.

Before taking nitroglycerin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• congestive heart failure;

• a history of heart attack, stroke, or head injury;

• low blood pressure;

• glaucoma;

• migraine headaches;

• liver disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take nitroglycerin.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether nitroglycerin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Nitroglycerin can cause severe headaches, especially when you first start using it. These headaches may gradually become less severe as you continue to use nitroglycerin. Do not stop taking the medication. Ask your doctor before using any headache pain medication.

How should I take nitroglycerin?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

If possible, try to rest or stay seated when you use this medication. Nitroglycerin can cause dizziness or fainting.

If you use nitroglycerin sublingual spray to treat an angina attack: At the first sign of an attack, apply the spray directly on or under your tongue. Close your mouth after each spray. Do not inhale the spray. Do not shake the spray before or during use. You may use additional sprays every 5 minutes, but not more than 3 sprays in 15 minutes.

You may use nitroglycerin spray within 5 to 10 minutes before an activity you think might cause chest pain. Follow your doctor's instructions.

The nitroglycerin sublingual tablet should be placed under your tongue and allowed to dissolve slowly. Do not chew or swallow it.

The nitroglycerin buccal tablet should be placed between your cheek and gum and allowed to dissolve slowly. Do not chew or swallow it.

You may feel a slight burning or stinging in your mouth when you use this medication. However, this sensation is not a sign of how well the medication is working. Do not use more medication just because you do not feel a burning or stinging. Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Seek emergency medical attention if your chest pain gets worse or lasts more than 5 minutes, especially if you have trouble breathing or feel weak, dizzy, or nauseated, or lightheaded.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using nitroglycerin.

It is important to keep this medicine on hand at all times in case of an angina attack. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

If you take nitroglycerin on a regular schedule to prevent angina, do not stop taking it suddenly or you could have a severe attack of angina. Store nitroglycerin tablets in the glass container at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep the spray away from open flame or high heat, such as in a car on a hot day. The canister may explode if it gets too hot.