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Minitran Warnings and Precautions
Before using Minitran, tell your healthcare provider if you are dehydrated, have low blood pressure, or are allergic to anything. Minitran is not the best choice for everyone, so the warnings and precautions should be reviewed with your healthcare provider to lower your risk of problems. Certain people should avoid it entirely, such as those who are allergic to any of the drug's ingredients.
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using Minitran™ (nitroglycerin patch) if you have:
- Dehydration
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Any allergies, including to food, dyes, or preservatives.
In addition, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
You should also be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of with this drug include the following:
- The use of nitroglycerin skin products, including Minitran, has not been studied in people having a heart attack or a sudden worsening of heart failure.
- Minitran can sometimes cause dangerously low blood pressure (hypotension). Alcohol or certain other medications may make this worse (see Minitran Drug Interactions for more information). People who already have low blood pressure or who are dehydrated are at particular risk for this complication.
- This medication often causes headaches. If this occurs, talk with your healthcare provider. Do not stop using Minitran without checking with your healthcare provider first.
- In the event that defibrillation or cardioversion is necessary, the paddles must not be placed over the Minitran patch, as severe skin burns and damage to the paddles may result. While healthcare providers should already be aware of this problem, this warning is becoming more important as automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) become more available in public places. (AEDs are designed to be used by the general public, not just healthcare providers.)
- This drug does not work for all types of chest pain (angina). If your chest pain gets worse when you use Minitran, let your healthcare provider know right away.
- In rare cases, some people may be allergic to Minitran. Let your healthcare provider know if you develop any signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, itching, unexplained swelling, or difficulty breathing.
- Minitran is a pregnancy Category C medication, which means that it may not be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are currently unknown (see Minitran and Pregnancy for more information).
- It is unknown if Minitran passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, check with your healthcare provider (or your child's healthcare provider) before using this product (see Minitran and Breastfeeding).
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD