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Precautions and Warnings With Nitroglycerin Spray
Make sure your healthcare provider knows if you have certain medical problems, such as anemia, problems with dehydration, or low blood pressure, before using nitroglycerin spray. Other safety precautions include warnings of potential problems this medicine may cause, such as intolerable headaches and allergic reactions. Also, you may not be able to use this spray if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using nitroglycerin spray (Nitrolingual®, NitroMist®) if you have:
- Anemia
- Increased intracranial pressure (increased pressure within the skull)
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Dehydration
- Any allergies, including to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
You should also tell your healthcare provider about all other medications you are taking, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to using this spray include the following:
- Nitroglycerin spray can sometimes cause dangerously low blood pressure (hypotension). Alcohol or certain other medications can make this worse (see Drug Interactions With Nitroglycerin Spray for more information). People who already have low blood pressure or who are dehydrated are at risk for dangerously low blood pressure.
- Do not use nitroglycerin spray more frequently or at a higher dose than absolutely necessary. Using it too often can result in a tolerance to the drug, which means your body has become accustomed to it and will no longer respond to the medication.
- If you have used three sprays within 15 minutes and your chest pain continues, it is time to seek immediate medical attention. You may be having a heart attack or another heart problem.
- Nitroglycerin spray often causes headaches. If headaches occur and they are intolerable, talk with your healthcare provider.
- Nitroglycerin spray does not work for all types of chest pain (angina). If your chest pain becomes worse while you are using this product, let your healthcare provider know right away.
- In rare cases, some people may be allergic to nitroglycerin spray. Let your healthcare provider know if you develop any signs of an allergic reaction, such as:
- Hives
- Itching
- Unexplained swelling
- Difficulty breathing.
- Nitroglycerin spray 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 Nitrolingual and Pregnancy or NitroMist and Pregnancy for more information).
- It is unknown if nitroglycerin spray 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 Nitrolingual and Breastfeeding or NitroMist and Breastfeeding).
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD