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:
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.
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