Drug name: Nitroglycerin

Other names used:

• Minitran®
• Nitro-Bid®
• Nitro-Time®®
• Nitroglycerin Slocaps®®
• Nitrol®
• Nitronal®

Active Ingredients:

• Nitroglycerin

Therapeutic effects of Nitroglycerin: Nitroglycerin which contains nitrate acts on the blood vessels and widens them. Widening of the blood vessels allows free flow of blood and reduces the burden on the heart. With its work load reduced, the heart becomes more efficient, requires lesser amount of oxygen, and there are less chances of chest pain.

Indications: Nitroglycerin tablets are administered to reduce chest pain which is the result of various heart ailments. Apart from this there may be other medicinal benefits of this drug.

Precautions and Restrictions: Avoid using Nitroglycerin if the following applies to you:

• If you are allergic to the active ingredient of this medicine
• If you are of the opinion that you are having a heart attack
• If you have high Intracranial pressure
• If you do not have adequate amount of red blood cells (anemia)
• If you are currently using phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, which is used for treating sexual dysfunction.

It is not advisable to use Nitroglycerin when you have the below mentioned conditions, and if you experience these conditions then talk to a doctor before taking this medicine:

• If you are pregnant or planning to become in the near future or if you are a nursing mother
• If you are already using other medicines, either prescribed by a doctor or not, or using herbal preparations, or dietary or health supplements
• If you are allergic to dyes, food stuffs, preservatives, or other substances
• If you are alcoholic
• If you previous had the following: hypotension, head injury, stroke, heart attack, head trauma, overactive thyroid, or heart failure

Some medicines may interact with Nitroglycerin: Nitroglycerin may react with certain medicines, so talk to your doctor about this before using this medicine. Nitroglycerin may react with the following medicines:

• Nitroglycerin may react with the following types of drugs and cause severe low blood pressure: phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors such as sildenafil, phenothiazines such as phenothiazines, calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem, and Beta-blockers such as propranolol
• Nitroglycerin may react with heparin or alteplase to reduce their effectiveness
• Salicylates drugs such as aspirin may change the effectiveness of nitroglycerin and may also change blood pressure changes. Hence your doctor may recommend a dosage change.

The above mentioned medicines may not be an exhaustive list of all the medicine that reacts with Nitroglycerin. To know more about Nitroglycerin interactions talk to your doctor about discontinuing any medicine, dosage change, etc.

Side effects of Nitroglycerin: Below mentioned are some of the side effects that users of this medicine may experience. Side effects mentioned below may or may not affect every user of this medicine and also there is no guarantee that people who take Nitroglycerin will only experience the below mentioned side effects:

• User may experience blurry vision and dizziness, so observe caution while driving, using machinery or any other task that requires coordination, balance, and alertness.
• Users of this medicine may experience dizziness, loss of balance, fainting, and lightheadedness. These side effects may be aggravated by fever, exercise, and alcohol. To avoid such reactions sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning, and sit or lie down at the first sign of dizziness, lightheadedness, or weakness.
• Users can prevent tooth and gum decay by varying the location sites and brush your teeth after the tablet has completely dissolved.
• Avoid falling asleep with the medicine in your mouth.

Users of Nitroglycerin should be regularly monitored and tested periodically to ascertain the effectiveness of this medicine and to check the side effects.

This medicine is not for children. The safety and effect of this medicine on children has not been confirmed.

The effect of this medicine on pregnant and nursing women has not been clearly confirmed, so before using this medicine it is best to discuss the benefits of using Nitroglycerin with your doctor.

Nitroglycerin may cause dizziness therefore it is not advisable to drive or use machinery while the drowsy effects last.

Alcohol may increase the intensity of side effects of this medicine so talk to a doctor about using alcoholic beverages and the amount of consumption. Some of common side effects of this medicine are:

• Vomiting, pale skin, urge to vomit, lightheadedness, excessive perspiration, cephalalgia, flushing, tingling and burning sensation in the mouth

Seek medical help if you experience any of these serious side effects:

• Allergic reactions such as rashes; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; blurred vision; fainting; increased chest pain; pounding in the chest; slow heartbeat.

Interactions: Before taking nitroglycerin it's very important to consult a doctor and apprise him of the treatment or medication (medicine without prescription or herbal medicine) you are currently under and also get a prescription from your doctor before starting any new drug. This is to make sure that the combination of the two drugs is safe.

• Medicine used to treat hypertension
• Antidepressants
• Anti-psychotics
• Quinidine
• Procainamide
• Benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium) or opiates (morphine)
• Alcohol

Additional Information: Nitroglycerin should not be used without prior approval of a doctor and do not share these drugs with anybody else. Nitroglycerin is made for specific conditions and it's not advisable to use for other purposes. Keep medicinal drugs, needles, syringes and other such medical substances out of the reach of children.