Nitroglycerine

Administration

• Type: Vasodilator
• Dosage Forms: SL, IV
• Common Trade Names: Nitrostat

Adult Dosing

Angina, acute

• 0.3 - 0.6mg SL q5min, max: 3 doses within 15 min
• IV form: 5 mcg/min IV, increase 5-20 mcg/min q3-5min.

Hypertension

• 5-200 mcg/min IV, start 5 mcg/min IV and increase increase 5 mcg/min q3-5min

Pediatric Dosing

hypertension/CHF

• 1-5 mcg/kg/min IV

Special Populations

• Pregnancy Rating: C
• Lactation risk: safety unknown

Renal Dosing

• Adult: not defined
• Pediatric: not defined

Hepatic Dosing

• Adult: not defined
• Pediatric: not defined

Contraindications

• Allergy to class/drug
• pericardial tamponade
• severe anemia
• SED use

Adverse Reactions

Serious

• hypotension
• bradycardia
• methemoglobinemia

Common

• headache
• lightheadedness
• dizziness
• flushing
• reflex tachycardia
• edema

Pharmacology

• Half-life: 1-3 min
• Metabolism: liver
• Excretion: urine

Mechanism of Action

• Stimulates cGMP production, resulting in vascular smooth muscle relaxtion

See Also

• IV nitroglycerine alternatives

References

Authors

Babak Missaghi, Ross Donaldson, Neil Young, Daniel Ostermayer