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Meds & supplements  ›  Nitroglycerin

Medicine · Nitrate Vasodilator

Nitroglycerin

Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are indicated for the acute relief of an attack or acute prophylaxis of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease.

Medication guideLabel updated 2025-11-06

Selected manufacturer label information, organised into consistent sections by Sofidex. Read the full label at DailyMed ↗

Drug facts

Used for
  • NITROSTAT is a type of medicine known as an organic nitrate and is a vasodilating agent.
  • It is used to treat a type of chest pain called angina.
How to take it
  • Do not chew, crush, or swallow NITROSTAT tablets.
  • You should sit down when taking NITROSTAT tablets and use caution when you stand up.
  • One tablet should be dissolved under the tongue or in the oral cavity at the first sign of chest pain.
Do not take if

What it is used for

NITROSTAT is a type of medicine known as an organic nitrate and is a vasodilating agent. It is used to treat a type of chest pain called angina.

Angina is a pain or discomfort that keeps coming back when part of your heart does not get enough blood. Angina feels like a pressing or squeezing pain, usually in your chest under the breastbone. Sometimes you can feel it in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaws, or back. NITROSTAT can relieve this pain.

How to take it

  • Do not chew, crush, or swallow NITROSTAT tablets.
  • You should sit down when taking NITROSTAT tablets and use caution when you stand up. This eliminates the possibility of falling due to lightheadedness or dizziness.
  • One tablet should be dissolved under the tongue or in the oral cavity at the first sign of chest pain.
  • The dose may be repeated approximately every 5 minutes, until the chest pain is relieved.
  • If the pain persists after a total of 3 tablets in a 15-minute period, or is different than you typically experience, call your doctor or seek emergency help.
  • NITROSTAT may be used 5 to 10 minutes prior to activities that might cause chest pain.
  • You may feel a burning or tingling sensation in your mouth when you take NITROSTAT.

Side effects, and when to stop

NITROSTAT may cause the following side effects:

Tell your doctor if you are concerned about any side effects you experience. These are not all the possible side effects of NITROSTAT. For a complete list, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Who should not take it

Do not use NITROSTAT if you are allergic to organic nitrates (like the active ingredient in NITROSTAT ).

You should not take NITROSTAT if you have the following conditions:

  • very recent heart attack
  • severe anemia
  • increased pressure in the head

Do not take NITROSTAT with drugs for erectile dysfunction, like VIAGRA® (sildenafil citrate), CIALIS® (tadalafil), or LEVITRA® (vardenafil hydrochloride), as this may lead to extreme lowering of your blood pressure.

Do not take NITROSTAT if you take medicines called guanylate cyclase stimulators which include riociguat, a medicine that treats pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic‑thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

What to say before you start

Before using NITROSTAT, tell your doctor if:

  • You are taking any medicines that are used to treat angina, heart failure, or an irregular heartbeat.
  • You are taking any medicines that reduce blood pressure.
  • You are taking any diuretics (water pills).
  • You are taking medicines that can cause dry mouth such as tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline, desipramine, doxepin), anticholinergic drugs, or any antimuscarinic drugs (e.g. atropine).
  • You are taking ergotamine or similar drugs for migraine headaches.
  • You are taking aspirin.
  • You are taking any medicines for erectile dysfunction.
  • You are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
  • You are breastfeeding.

What to avoid

  • Do not breastfeed. It is not known if NITROSTAT will pass through your milk.
  • Do not consume alcohol while taking NITROSTAT, as this can lower your blood pressure.
  • Do not start any new prescription or non-prescription medicines or supplements, unless you check with your doctor first.

Storing it

NITROSTAT should be kept in the original glass container and tightly capped after each use to prevent loss of tablet potency.

Store NITROSTAT tablets at room temperature (between 68° and 77°F).

General advice about NITROSTAT

Sometimes doctors will prescribe a medicine for a condition that is not included in the patient information leaflets. Only use NITROSTAT the way your doctor told you to. Do not give NITROSTAT to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.

You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about NITROSTAT, or contact Viatris at 1-877-446-3679 (1-877-4-INFO-RX).

Distributed by: Viatris Specialty LLC Morgantown, WV 26505 U.S.A.

© 2023 Viatris Inc.

NITROSTAT is a registered trademark of Viatris Specialty LLC, a Viatris Company.

UPJ:PL:NTRST:R1 Revised: 2/2023

Cite this page

NLM

sofidex [Internet]. Daloreum; c2026. Nitroglycerin; [reviewed 2026 Aug 3; cited 2026 Nov 10]. Available from: https://sofidex.com/patients/medicines/nitroglycerin

APA 7th

sofidex. (2026, August 3). Nitroglycerin. Daloreum. Retrieved November 10, 2026, from https://sofidex.com/patients/medicines/nitroglycerin

AMA 11th

Nitroglycerin. sofidex. Reviewed August 3, 2026. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://sofidex.com/patients/medicines/nitroglycerin

The cited date is today’s, because a citation records when you read the page. The reviewed date is when a clinician last checked it.