Nitroglycerin Patch (Generic Name)
Other Names: Deponit®, Minitran®, Nitro-Dur®, Transderm-Nitro®

Dosage form

Transdermal patches: 0.1 mg/hr, 0.2 mg/hr, 0.3 mg/hr, 0.4 mg/hr, 0.6 mg/hr

About this drug

Nitroglycerin (nye-tro-GLISS-er-in) is used to prevent chest pain (angina). It is a vasodilator(VAY-zo-dye-LAY-ter). 

Side effects

Common side effects are:

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Flushing of the face and neck
  • Increased heart rate
  • Restlessness

Rare side effects include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Dry mouth
  • Headache
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue

If any of these side effects becomes severe or bothers you, call your doctor. Do not take over-the-counter medicine for your symptoms.

Drug interactions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any prescription medicine, over-the-counter medicine, or herbal products that you are taking. He or she will check for interactions.  

Rise slowly

This drug may cause you to feel light-headed or dizzy when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Get up slowly from a lying position. Sit for a few minutes first. Then rise to a standing position. If you try to stand up and feel dizzy, sit back down for a few minutes.  

How to take this medicine

Place the patch on a hairless area of your chest or upper arms each day. Move the patch to a different place on your body each day to prevent skin irritation. It is important to remove the patch for 8 to 12 hours each night, and then put on a fresh patch each day. You should not leave the patch on all the time. If you leave it on all the time, your body gets too used to it. In other words, your body develops tolerance to it. When this happens, the nitroglycerin doesn’t work as well.  


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