Why nitroglycerin for angina

Keep the container tightly closed. Keep nitroglycerin pills and liquid spray away from heat or moisture. Nitroglycerin can get old. And when it is old, it may not work. If your nitroglycerin supply is past its expiration date, get a new prescription as soon as possible. Keep your nitroglycerin in the container it came in and tightly closed. Do not open your sublingual nitroglycerin until you need a dose.

Replace your tablets every 3 to 6 months. A nitroglycerin spray may last up to 2 years before it expires. You may get a headache when you use nitroglycerin. Or you may feel burning or tingling under your tongue with nitroglycerin that is used under the tongue. But if you don't have a headache or feel burning or tingling under your tongue, it does not mean the medicine is not working.

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Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Using Nitroglycerin for Angina. Top of the page. Topic Overview What is nitroglycerin? Nitroglycerin comes in quick-acting forms and long-acting forms.

Your doctor will prescribe the right amount for you. Do not use another person's nitroglycerin. Doctors call this condition coronary artery disease CAD. CAD is the most common type of heart disease. Nitroglycerin allows the blood vessels to open up, letting oxygen and nutrient-rich blood feed the heart muscle. This action offers immediate relief from chest pain. Anal fissures are tears in the skin of the anus. People can develop anal fissures from passing hard stools.

Similar to its effects on angina, nitroglycerin as a rectal ointment helps the healing process by stimulating blood flow to the affected area. When someone is experiencing intense chest pain , it is vital to resolve this symptom as quickly as possible.

People can also take fast-acting nitroglycerin formulations 5—10 minutes before doing an activity that may cause an angina attack. The aerosol spray, pumpspray, packet, and tablet are all fast-acting forms of nitroglycerin. The following sections look at these forms in more detail. People can use these devices by giving one or two sprays on or under the tongue once they feel angina pain. They should not inhale the spray. A sublingual packet of nitroglycerin contains micrograms of nitroglycerin powder.

A person places the contents of the packet under their tongue when angina pains begin. At the first sign of angina pain, a person should place the tablet under their tongue or between the gums and the cheek. The tablet will dissolve and absorb through the tissues of the mouth. People who use the aerosol spray, pumpspray, packet, or tablet should not swallow the drug.

Nitroglycerin will absorb through the mouth tissues on its own. This provides faster relief than swallowing the medication. People should also avoid rinsing or spitting for 5 minutes after administering the dose. A person can take each of these forms of fast-acting nitroglycerin at 5-minute intervals. If they do not feel relief from the intense chest pain, they can take two more doses 5 minutes apart. If someone has taken three doses of a fast-acting formulation and does not experience any pain relief, they need medical attention immediately.

There are also two other formulations of nitroglycerin that can prevent angina attacks. These are not fast-acting, so people should not use them to stop an attack when it is happening. A person places the patch on their skin anywhere except the areas below the knee and elbow. Most people place the patch on their chest. The area should be clean, dry, and hairless to allow the nitroglycerin to absorb across the skin. A person should leave the patch on their skin for 12—14 hours and remove it for 10—12 hours.

People usually have the patch on during the day and remove it during sleep. People can apply nitroglycerin ointment to their skin using a dose-measuring applicator that comes with the tube. A person measures the desired dose onto the measuring applicator and then places the applicator ointment side down on the skin. They then spread the ointment across the skin.

The person should not rub the medication in but allow the ointment to absorb across the skin. Finally, they tape the applicator to the skin. People apply two doses of ointment each day. Doctors usually tell people to use the ointment first thing in the morning and reapply it 6 hours later. The rectal ointment for anal fissures contains 0. A person inserts the ointment into their anus every 12 hours for up to 4 weeks. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled.

Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Top of the page. Topic Overview What is nitroglycerin? When do I use quick-acting nitroglycerin? In general, quick-acting nitroglycerin is used: To relieve sudden angina. Before stressful activities that can cause angina, such as walking uphill or having sexual intercourse.

How do I use quick-acting nitroglycerin? Sit or lie down to take your nitroglycerin. If you are driving, pull over and park the car. Taking nitroglycerin can lower your blood pressure, which could cause you to pass out if you are standing up. For sudden episodes of angina, use nitroglycerin in a tablet or liquid spray form.

Place the under-the-tongue sublingual tablet under your tongue. Leave it there until it dissolves. If you accidentally swallow the tablet, take another. The medicine won't work if it is swallowed. Place the between-cheek-and-gum buccal tablet between your cheek and gum. Use the spray under your tongue or on top of your tongue. Push the spray canister button once.

Close your mouth right away. Take one tablet or spray dose. If after 5 minutes your angina symptoms are not better or get worse, call or other emergency services immediately. After you call , continue to stay on the phone with the emergency operator.

He or she will give you further instructions. Regardless of what happens, you should let your doctor know that you had an episode of angina. If this is unusual for you, if your angina episodes are occurring more frequently or lasting longer, or if you need more medicine to control them, tell your doctor.