Type of medicine: nitrate
Generic and brand names: nitroglycerin, sublingual; nitroglycerin, translingual; Nitrolingual; Nitrostat; NitroMist
This medicine is used to prevent and relieve angina (chest pain).
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
This medicine comes in several forms that you take by mouth. Some forms of this medicine are used only when you start to feel chest pain, while other forms are taken daily. Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly.
Be sure you know how to use your medicine. You should sit down before you use this medicine.
Sublingual. Place the tablet under the tongue, between the lip and gum, or between the cheek and gum and let it dissolve there. Do not eat, drink, smoke, or use chewing tobacco while a tablet is dissolving. It dissolves best when your mouth is dry. Do not chew, crush, or swallow the tablets. You may feel a slight tingling or stinging sensation when the medicine is dissolving.
Translingual. This medicine is in the form of an aerosol spray that is sprayed onto or under the tongue. Do not shake the container. Do not inhale the spray. Do not spit out the medicine and do not rinse your mouth for 5 to 10 minutes after using the medicine. Follow your healthcare provider's directions for the use of this medicine.
This medicine should relieve your pain within 15 minutes after you take it. If the pain continues, contact your healthcare provider or get medical care right away.
Do not increase your dosage without your healthcare provider's approval. Too much of this medicine may cause severe headaches.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: severe headache, confusion, fever, fast pounding heartbeat, dizziness, vision problems, nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, trouble breathing, sweating, cold clammy skin, lightheadedness, fainting, seizures.
Do not take sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio), vardenafil (Levitra), or tadalafil (Cialis) while you are taking this medicine. Using these medicines together may cause severe or life-threatening low blood pressure.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.
Tell your healthcare provider if you think this medicine is not working as well as it did when you first started using the medicine.
You may have a short headache after each dose when you start taking this medicine. Treat headaches with aspirin or acetaminophen as directed by your healthcare provider. If the headaches continue or become severe, contact your provider.
You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help. Also, drinking alcohol may make it worse. Do not drink alcohol unless your healthcare provider approves.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe headache, dry mouth, blurred vision, blue lips or fingernails, severe or ongoing dizziness, slow heartbeat, increased chest pain, confusion.
Other: Dizziness, short headache, sweating, flushing, weakness, fast heartbeat, nausea, vomiting.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine without your healthcare provider’s approval.
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep this medicine in its original container. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light. Keep the medicine from freezing.
If you have the spray form, store it in an upright position. Do not puncture, break, or burn the container.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
