GENERIC NAME: NITROGLYCERIN
BRAND NAME: Nitrostat
Drug classes
Antianginal
Nitrate
Therapeutic actions
Relaxes vascular smooth muscle with a resultant decrease in venous return and decrease in arterial BP, which reduces left ventricular workload and decreases myocardial oxygen consumption
Available forms
Injection—0.5, 5 mg/mL; injection solution—25, 50, 100, 200 mg; sublingual tablets—0.3, 0.4, 0.6 mg;
Adverse effects
CNS: Headache, apprehension, restlessness, weakness, vertigo, dizziness, faintness
CV: Tachycardia, retrosternal discomfort, palpitations, hypotension, syncope, collapse, orthostatic hypotension, angina
Dermatologic:Rash, exfoliative dermatitis, cutaneous vasodilation with flushing, pallor, perspiration, cold sweat, contact dermatitis—transdermal preparations, topical allergic reactions—topical nitroglycerin ointment
GI: Nausea, vomiting, incontinence of urine and feces, abdominal pain
Indications
Sublingual, translingual preparations: Acute angina
Oral SR, sublingual, topical, transdermal, translingual, transmucosal preparations: Prophylaxis of angina
IV: Angina unresponsive to recommended doses of organic nitrates or beta-blockers
IV: Perioperative hypertension
IV: CHF associated with acute MI
IV: To produce controlled hypertension during surgery
Unlabeled uses: Reduction of cardiac workload in acute MI and in CHF (sublingual, topical); adjunctive treatment of Raynaud's diseasetopical
Contraindications and cautions
Contraindicated with allergy to nitrates, severe anemia, early MI, head trauma, cerebral hemorrhage, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, pregnancy, lactation.
Use cautiously with hepatic or renal disease, hypotension or hypovolemia, increased intracranial pressure, constrictive pericarditis, pericardial tamponade, low ventricular filling pressure or low PCWP