Nitrates Topical (Systemic)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For nitroglycerin applied to the skin, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to nitrates or nitrites. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as certain foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Nitrates have not been studied in pregnant women. Before taking these medicines, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking these medicines and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Studies on these medicines have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of nitrates in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Dizziness or lightheadedness may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who may be more sensitive to the effects of nitrates.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are using nitroglycerin, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine) or
• Other heart medicine or
• Sildenafil - May increase the effects of nitroglycerin on blood pressure

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of nitroglycerin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Anemia (severe)

• Glaucoma - May be worsened by nitroglycerin

• Head injury (recent) or
• Stroke (recent) - Nitroglycerin may increase pressure in the brain, which can make problems worse

• Heart attack (recent) - Nitroglycerin may lower blood pressure, which can aggravate problems associated with heart attack

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease - Effects may be increased because of slower removal of nitroglycerin from the body

• Overactive thyroid