Patient Education Caring For Your Heart Booklet | Page 23

Spray: Before you use the bottle the fi rst
time, you will need to “prime” it. Follow
the directions on the label. You will also
need to re-prime the bottle if you have
not used it for 6 weeks.
Nitrates
Nitrates relax the arteries of the heart to
decrease the frequency and amount of
chest pain. Some side effects may include
headache, dizziness or lightheadedness
when rising from sitting or lying, nausea,
vomiting, restlessness, fl ushing of the
face, or fast pulse.
Spray once either onto or under the
tongue. Close your mouth after you
spray, but do not swallow or rinse. Do
not breathe in the spray. If your chest
pain is not relieved in 5 minutes, call 911
and spray a second time. If you still have
pain, spray a third time 5 minutes later,
for a total of 3 sprays.
Some examples of nitrates are listed
below.
Generic Name
Brand Name
Isosorbide dinitrate Dilatrate ® -SR,
Isordil ®
Isosorbide
ISMO ® , Imdur ®
mononitrate
Nitroglycerin spray Nitrolingual ®
Nitroglycerin
Nitrostat ®
tablets
Nitroglycerin
Minitran ® ,
transdermal
Nitro-Dur ® ,
Nitrodisc ® ,
Transderm-Nitro ® ,
Deponit ®
Tablets, patches, ointments: Some
long-acting forms of nitroglycerin
come in tablets, skin patches, or
ointments (creams). Some tablets may
be swallowed. Follow your doctor’s
directions if and when these are required
to treat your angina.
Notes
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Using and Storing Nitrates ___________________________________
Nitroglycerin tablets: Be sure to be
sitting down when taking nitroglycerin.
Dissolve the small, white nitroglycerin
(NTG) tablet under your tongue. Do not
swallow these tablets. If your chest pain
is not relieved in 5 minutes, call 911 and
take a second tablet. If you still have
pain, take a third tablet 5 minutes later,
for a total of 3 tablets. ___________________________________
To maintain their freshness, the tablets
should be kept tightly capped in the
brown glass bottle they come in. Discard
the cotton once the bottle has been
opened. Do not store the bottle in very
cold or very warm places such as the
refrigerator or car. ___________________________________
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