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Nitroglycerin

Deponit NT, Glisenit, Nitril, Nitroderm Tts · ATC code C01DA02

Also known as: Nitrogliserin, Nitroglicerina, Nitroglycérine · Brand names: Nitro-Bid, Nitro-Dur, Nitrolingual, Nitrostat, Rectiv, Deponit NT, Glisenit, Nitril, Nitroderm Tts, Nitrolingual Pump, Perlinganit, Trinity

Key facts
Active substance
Nitroglycerin
Drug class
Vasodilator agent
ATC code
C01DA02
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-27

Key facts

Nitroglycerin is an organic nitrate. As a lingual spray it is used for acute relief and prophylaxis of angina pectoris attacks due to coronary artery disease (US prescribing information).

What it is used for

  • Acute relief of an attack of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease
  • Prophylaxis of angina before activities that might precipitate an attack

Dosing

  • One or two metered sprays (400 mcg nitroglycerin per spray) onto or under the tongue at the onset of an attack
  • May be repeated approximately every five minutes as needed; no more than three sprays within a 15-minute period
  • If chest pain persists after a total of three sprays, prompt medical attention is advised
  • Prophylactically 5 to 10 minutes before activities that might precipitate an attack
  • Administer while resting, ideally sitting; the spray should not be inhaled; the pump must be primed before first use

Contraindications

  • Concomitant PDE-5 inhibitors (e.g. avanafil, sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil)
  • Concomitant sGC stimulators such as riociguat
  • Severe anaemia
  • Possible increased intracranial pressure (e.g. cerebral haemorrhage, traumatic brain injury)
  • Hypersensitivity

Important warnings

  • Excessive use may lead to tolerance; only the smallest number of doses needed for relief should be used
  • Severe hypotension, particularly with upright posture, may occur even with small doses, especially in constrictive pericarditis, aortic or mitral stenosis, volume depletion or existing hypotension
  • Hypotension may be accompanied by paradoxical bradycardia and increased angina
  • Nitrates may aggravate angina caused by hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
  • Dose-related headaches, which may be severe, especially at the start of therapy

Side effects

  • More often than placebo: headache, dizziness, paresthesia
  • Postmarketing: weakness, drowsiness, flushing, drug rash, exfoliative dermatitis, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, transient hypoxemia

Interactions

  • PDE-5 inhibitors potentiate the hypotensive effects of organic nitrates – contraindicated; use within a few days of one another is not recommended
  • sGC stimulators (e.g. riociguat): hypotension – contraindicated
  • Antihypertensives, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers: possible additive hypotensive effects; marked orthostatic hypotension reported with calcium channel blockers
  • Ergotamine and related drugs should be avoided, or patients monitored for ergotism

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • Limited published data are insufficient to determine a drug-associated risk of major birth defects or miscarriage; animal studies showed no adverse developmental effects
  • Lactation: not studied; it is not known whether nitroglycerin is present in human milk

Summary of the official product information, written with AI on 2026-10-28. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

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Patient information (US)

Patient information (US) →

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

USA

  • Nitro-BidSavage Laboratories a division of Fougera Pharmaceuticals, LLC · 1 register entry
  • Nitro-DurIngenus Pharmaceuticals, LLC · 1 register entry
  • NitrolingualINDEPENDENCE PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC · 1 register entry
  • NitrostatViatris Specialty LLC · 4 register entries
  • RectivAllergan, Inc. · 1 register entry

Source: U.S. FDA – Drug labels (openFDA/DailyMed), as of 2026-10-28

Turkey

  • Deponit NTADEKA İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 4 register entries
  • GlisenitSOLEBİO İLAÇ SANAYİ İTHALAT İHRACAT A.Ş. · 1 register entry
  • NitrilNOBEL İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 2 register entries
  • Nitroderm TtsSANDOZ İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 4 register entries
  • Nitrolingual PumpFARMA-TEK İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 1 register entry
  • PerlinganitADEKA İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 1 register entry
  • TrinityVEM İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 1 register entry

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. NITROGLYCERIN LINGUAL (Allegis Pharmaceuticals, LLC) – Prescribing Information, 2025-12-17. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-27. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=fadd07b7-189b-4678-ad0f-bf1e4d3d1300
  2. U.S. FDA – Drug labels (openFDA/DailyMed), 2026-10-28. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/
  3. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85
  4. Wikidata (CC0): ATC C01DA.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-27 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.