Nitroglycerin and Nitrates for Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease

Nitroglycerin and Nitrates for Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease

Compound Route Dose Duration of Effect Nitroglycerin Sublingual tablets 0.3–0.6 mg up to 1.5 mg Approximately 10 min Spray 0.4 mg as needed Similar to sublingual tablets Ointment 2% 6 x 6 in; 15 x 15 cm 7.5-40 mg Effect up to 7 h Transdermal 0.2–0.8 mg/h every 12 h 8–12 h during intermittent therapy Oral sustained release 2.5–13 mg 4–8 h Intravenous 5–200 g/min Tolerance may be seen in 7–8 h Isosorbide dinitrate Sublingual 2.5–10 mg Up to 60 min Oral 5–80 mg, 2–3 times daily Up to 8 h Spray 1.25 mg daily 2–3 min Chewable 5 mg 2–2½ h Oral slow release 40 mg 1–2 daily Up to 8 h Intravenous 1.25–5.0 mg/h Tolerance in 7–8 h Ointment 100 mg/24 h Not effective Isosorbide mononitrate Oral 20 mg twice daily60–240 mg once daily 12–24 h Pentaerythritol tetranitrate Sublingual 10 mg as needed Not known

Source: Modified from RJ Gibbons et al.