The Cardiovascular
Drug manuals

Nitroglycerin

Nitroglycerin Patients using nitroglycerin regularly may have developed tolerance and require higher doses, alternatively nitroprusside to achieve desirable blood pressure lowring…

Nitroglycerin

Patients using nitroglycerin regularly may have developed tolerance and require higher doses, alternatively nitroprusside to achieve desirable blood pressure lowring effect.

DrugNitroglycerin
Brand namesGonitro ®, Minitran ®, Mylan-nitro ®, Nitro-bid ®, Nitro-dur ®, Nitroject ®, Nitrolingual ®, Nitromist ®, Nitrostat ®, Rectiv ®, Trinipatch ®
IndicationsPulmonary edema, congestive heart failure. Angina pectoris. Hypertension, hypertensive crisis/emergency. Pulmonary hypertension. Blood pressure control.
Mechanism of actionNitroglycerin provides nitric oxide (NO) that induces vasodilatation (of both arterioles and veins) via generation of cyclic GMP, which then activates calcium-sensitive potassium channels in the cell membrane. Nitroglycerin is similar in action and pharmacokinetics to nitroprusside, although the latter is more potent.
EffectsAntihypertensive. Antianginal.
Time to onset of action2 to 5 minutes
Duration of action5 to 10 minutes
DeliveryIV
DoseInitial infusion dose: 5 μg/min. Increase by 5-10 μg/min every 5 min to desired blood pressure. Maximum dose: 100 μg/min. Time to onset of action: 2 to 5 minutes Duration of action: 5 to 10 minutes.
Adverse effectsHeadache (cerebral vasodilation). Tachycardia (due to reflex sympathetic activation). Nausea. Vomiting. Flushing. Palpitations. Tolerance with prolonged use. Methemoglobinemia. Hypoxemia.
CautionProceed with caution in afterload-dependent conditions.

Nitroglycerin doses and administration in hypertension (hypertensive crisis/emergency).

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