How long are nitroglycerin tablets good for?
Highlights for nitroglycerin Show
Low blood pressure: This drug may lower your blood pressure. This can cause lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting when you stand up. This is called orthostatic hypotension. It may happen as soon as you take the drug. You should sit down while taking this medication and then stand up slowly. Your doctor may check your blood pressure before and during your treatment with this drug. Nitroglycerin sublingual tablet is a prescription drug that’s available as the brand-name drug Nitrostat. It’s also available as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less than the brand-name version. In some cases, they may not be available in all strengths or forms as the brand-name drug. Nitroglycerin also comes as a spray, aerosol solution, transdermal patch, and ointment. It also comes in an injectable form that’s only given by a healthcare professional. To take the sublingual tablet, you place it under your tongue or inside your cheek and let it dissolve. Why it’s usedNitroglycerin is used to treat angina (chest pain). Angina is a pain or discomfort that happens when part of your heart does not get enough blood. It feels like a pressing or squeezing pain. It can happen in your chest, neck, arms (usually the left one), and lower jaw. How it worksNitroglycerin belongs to a class of drugs called vasodilators. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. Nitroglycerin works by relaxing the smooth muscle and blood vessels in your body. This increases the amount of blood and oxygen that reaches your heart. In turn, your heart doesn’t work as hard. This reduces chest pain. Nitroglycerin can cause dizziness during the first few hours after you take it. You shouldn’t drive or use machinery until you know how this medication affects you. This drug can also cause other side effects. More common side effectsThe more common side effects of nitroglycerin can include:
If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Serious side effectsCall your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare professional who knows your medical history. Nitroglycerin sublingual tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with nitroglycerin are listed below. Drugs you should not use with nitroglycerinYou should not take certain drugs with nitroglycerin. Doing so can cause dangerous effects in your body. Examples of these drugs include:
Interactions that can make your drugs less effectiveWhen you take nitroglycerin with certain drugs, nitroglycerin may not work as well to treat your condition. This is because the amount of nitroglycerin in your body may be decreased. Examples of these drugs include:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare professional about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. Nitroglycerin sublingual tablet comes with several warnings. Alcohol interactionDrinking alcohol can increase your risk of very low blood pressure from this drug. If you drink alcohol, talk to your doctor. Allergy warningAllergic reactions to nitroglycerin are extremely rare, but they do occur. Symptoms can include:
If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room. Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death). Warnings for people with certain health conditionsFor people with a history of heart attack or heart failure: It isn’t known if this drug will help you during a heart attack. A heart attack may cause severe, crushing pain that comes on suddenly. If you have signs of a heart attack, call 911 right away. It also isn’t known if this drug helps people with heart failure. If you use this drug in this situation, it may lower your heart rate and blood pressure. Warnings for other groupsFor pregnant women: Studies of use of this drug in pregnant animals have not shown risk to the fetus. However, there aren’t enough studies done in humans to show if the drug poses a risk to a human pregnancy. Therefore, this drug should only be used if the potential benefit justifies potential risk. Talk to your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Call your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this drug. For women who are breastfeeding: Nitroglycerin may pass into breast milk and cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication. For children: This medication has not been studied in children. It should not be used in people younger than 18 years. This dosage information is for nitroglycerin sublingual tablet. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:
Forms and strengthsGeneric: Nitroglycerin
Brand: Nitrostat
Dosage for angina (chest pain)Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years) This medication has not been studied in children. It should not be used in people younger than 18 years. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Nitroglycerin sublingual tablet is used for short-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed. If you don’t take it at all: If you don’t take this drug at all, you may have severe chest pain. If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: This drug is not meant to be taken on a schedule. Take it only when you have chest pain. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:
If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What to do if you miss a dose: This drug is not meant to be taken on a schedule. Take it only when you have chest pain. How to tell if the drug is working: Your chest pain should get better. Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes nitroglycerin sublingual tablets for you. General
Storage
RefillsA prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. TravelWhen traveling with your medication:
Self-managementTo take this drug, place it under your tongue or on the inside of your cheek. Don’t swallow the tablet. Instead, let it dissolve in your mouth. Don’t eat or drink anything until the drug has completely dissolved. If you smoke, don’t smoke until the drug has fully dissolved. Your doctor may have you check your blood pressure and heart rate at home. You may need to buy your own blood pressure monitor to do this. You should keep a log of the date, time of day, and blood pressure readings. Bring this journal with you to your checkups. Clinical monitoringThis drug may lower your blood pressure and heart rate. Your doctor may check your blood pressure and heart rate before and during your treatment. They may also ask you to check your blood pressure and heart rate at home. If your blood pressure and heart rate drop too low, your doctor may reduce your dosage, stop your treatment, or give you a different form of nitroglycerin. Hidden costsYou may need to purchase a blood pressure monitor to check your blood pressure at home. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. Can you take expired nitroglycerin tablets?"Are there any medications that I should never, ever use beyond their expiration dates?" Yes, absolutely. Oral nitroglycerin (NTG), a medication used for angina (chest pain), may lose its potency quickly once the bottle is opened and should never be taken after the expiration date.
How long should nitroglycerin last?Adults—1 tablet placed under the tongue or between the cheek and gum at the first sign of an angina attack. 1 tablet may be used every 5 minutes as needed, for up to 15 minutes.
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