Nitrates Oral (Systemic)

Category

• Antianginal - Isosorbide Dinitrate; Isosorbide Mononitrate; Nitroglycerin
• Vasodilator, congestive heart failure - Isosorbide Dinitrate; Nitroglycerin

Description

Nitrates (NYE-trates) are used to treat the symptoms of angina (chest pain). Depending on the type of dosage form and how it is taken, nitrates are used to treat angina in three ways:

• to relieve an attack that is occurring by using the medicine when the attack begins;
• to prevent attacks from occurring by using the medicine just before an attack is expected to occur; or
• to reduce the number of attacks that occur by using the medicine regularly on a long-term basis.

When taken orally and swallowed, nitrates are used to reduce the number of angina attacks that occur. They do not act fast enough to relieve the pain of an angina attack.

Nitrates work by relaxing blood vessels and increasing the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its work load.

Nitrates may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

The nitrates discussed here are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Isosorbide dinitrate
  • Extended-release capsules (U.S.)
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
  • Chewable tablets (U.S.)
  • Extended-release tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Isosorbide mononitrate
  • Extended-release tablets (U.S.)
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Nitroglycerin
  • Extended-release capsules (U.S.)
  • Extended-release tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

• Dilatrate-SR ¹
• IMDUR ²
• ISDN ¹
• ISMO ²
• Isordil Tembids ¹
• Isordil Titradose ¹
• Monoket ²
• Nitrocot ³
• Nitroglyn E-R ³
• Nitro-par ³
• Nitro-time ³
• Nitrong ³
• Sorbitrate ¹

In Canada -

• Apo-ISDN ¹
• Cedocard-SR ¹
• Coradur ¹
• Coronex ¹
• IMDUR ²
• ISMO ²
• Isordil Titradose ¹
• Nitrong SR ³

Another commonly used name is:

• Glyceryl trinitrate