Since nitroglycerin is often used only as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If
you are using the medication regularly, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If your
next dose is less than 2 hours away, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next
regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed
dose.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine.
An overdose of nitroglycerin can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include a severe throbbing headache, confusion, fever, fast or
pounding heartbeats, dizziness, vision problems, nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, trouble
breathing, cold or clammy skin, feeling light-headed, fainting, and seizures.
What should I avoid while taking nitroglycerin?
Nitroglycerin can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be
careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of nitroglycerin, such
as dizziness, drowsiness, feeling light-headed, or fainting.
What are the possible side effects of nitroglycerin?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic
reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using nitroglycerin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious
side effects:
-
fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heart rate;
-
blurred vision or dry mouth;
-
feeling light-headed, nausea, vomiting, sweating, pale skin
fainting; or
-
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering,
peeling, and red skin rash.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
mild burning or tingling with the tablet in your mouth;
-
warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin; or
-
feeling weak or dizzy.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
What other drugs will affect nitroglycerin?
Before taking nitroglycerin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
alteplase (Activase);
-
aspirin or heparin;
-
bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin
(Ditropan) or tolterodine (Detrol);
-
blood pressure medication;
-
bronchodilators such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or
tiotropium (Spiriva);
-
dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal) or ergotamine
(Ergomar, Cafergot, and others);
-
an erectile dysfunction medication such as tadalafil (Cialis)
or vardenafil (Levitra);
-
antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon),
clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil), and others;
-
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol
(Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol
(Betapace), and others;
-
a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Tiazac,
Cardizem), nifedipine (Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan),
and others;
-
irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl),
hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine);
-
any medication that causes dry mouth; or
-
medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as
chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), thioridazine (Mellaril), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with nitroglycerin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications
you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other
doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about nitroglycerin.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children,
never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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