The meds that cannot be taken with nitroglycerin erectile dysfunction medications also known as phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors.
The phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors medications also known as erectile dysfunction pills cannot be taken with nitroglycerin as they pose a risk of a serious and life threatening drop in your blood pressure.
Common erectile dysfunction pills or phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors that should not be taken with nitroglycerin include, Sildenafil also known as Viagra and Revatio, Tadalafil also known as Cialis and Adcirca, Vardenafil also known as Levitra and Staxyn and Avanafil also known as Stendra.
If you have taken one of these ED or erectile dysfunction pills, you should avoid nitroglycerin for around 24 to 48 hours.
Also combining nitroglycerin with other medications that lower your blood pressure can also cause dangerously low blood pressure, dizziness and fainting.
Blood pressure medications that can interfere with nitroglycerin include.
Beta blockers (e.g., metoprolol, atenolol, propranolol)
Calcium channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine, diltiazem, verapamil)
Diuretics (water pills)
Other heart or blood pressure medications
And even migraine medications and Anticholinergic medications can interact with nitroglycerin.
Certain antihistamines, antidepressants (like amitriptyline), and medicines for stomach problems or Parkinson's disease can cause dry mouth, which might prevent sublingual nitroglycerin tablets from dissolving properly.
Ergot derivatives, like ergotamine and dihydroergotamine, can cause more chest pain when combined with oral nitroglycerin.
When you take nitroglycerin and you don't need it, what happens is you will often experience significant side effects from it's blood vesseling opening action, which includes, flushing, severe headaches, dizziness and a sudden drop in your blood pressure also known as hypotension as well as fainting and a slow heart rate.
And although nitroglycerin is not usually habit forming, taking nitroglycerin when not needed can result in tolerance, which makes the nitroglycerin less effective when needed and in severe cases or when taken with some other medications like ED drugs, the nitroglycerin can cause dangerous drops in your blood pressure and potentially result in coma, or even seizures, which emphasizes on the need to only use and take nitroglycerin when needed.
Common side effects of taking nitroglycerin when you don't need it include intense headaches, flushing, dizziness and lightheadedness, fainting and rapid or slow heartbeat as the heart may try to compensation.
Intense headache is a very common symptom as your blood vessels dilate and redness and warmth of the face and skin can occur.
The lightheadedness and dizziness is a result of the lowered blood pressure and fainting is also a result of the lower blood pressure.
In more serious cases of taking nitroglycerin when you don't need it, severe hypotension can occur, in which your blood pressure gets dangerously low and can cause confusion, weakness, cold and clammy skin and coma.
Digestive upset can also occur ad result in nausea and vomiting and blue lips and fingernails can occur as a result of low oxygen.
And although rare you ca also experience methemoglobinemia which can cause bluish skin, shortness of breath and fatigue.
And even possibly increased cardiac vulnerability, as prolonged unnecessary use of nitroglycerin can decrease protective enzymes and potentially worsen heart attack outcomes.
Nitroglycerin also sometimes spelled nitroglycerine is a prescription medication that is used to relieve chest pain and an acute attack of angina, by widening your blood vessels and improving blood flow to your heart.
Nitroglycerine prevents and treats chest pain including angina pain by relaxing your blood vessels and you should take the nitroglycerine at the first sign of chest pain or chest tightness.
To take nitroglycerine for chest pain, place the nitroglycerine tablet under your tongue or between your cheek and gum and allow it to dissolve completely.
Don't chew, crush or swallow the nitroglycerine pill, and when taking nitroglycerine you may experience a slight tingling or burning sensation, which can indicate potency, but the absence of this sensation does not mean the nitroglycerine is ineffective.
For the spray, hold the container upright near your open mouth and spray once onto your tongue or under your tongue and avoid shaking the container or inhaling the spray.
Wait around 5 minutes as the nitroglycerine can take around 5 minutes to fully take effect, although the pain usually goes away within 1 to 3 minutes after taking nitroglycerine, but full effect can take 5 minutes.
If the pain does not improve you should call 911 immediately and don't wait.
If you experience any sudden, severe chest pain, especially if the pain radiates to your arm, jaw or back or is accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea or sweating you should call 911.
Angina pain starts behind the breastbone as pressure, squeezing or tightness, but the angina pain often also spreads or radiates to your arms, especially your left arm, neck, your jaw, shoulders, back and even your stomach.
The angina pain can feel like a dull ache, burning or heaviness feeling.
The angina pain can also be and is often accompanied by shortness of breath, fatigue, sweating or nausea and women with angina sometimes experience atypical symptoms like throat discomfort or jaw discomfort more prominently.
Common locations of angina pain are in the chest, in the center under the breastbone or sternum.
Pain in the arms with angina, which radiates down one arm or both arms and often the left arm.
Pain in the neck and jaw, and pain or discomfort in your throat, jaw or teeth.
Pain in your shoulders and back, as the pain spreads to the shoulders or upper back.
And pain in the abdomen or upper stomach area can also occur with angina.
The pain with angina feels like pressure, squeezing, tightness, heaviness or burning.
The angina pain can be mild or more severe, and sometimes even be described as a vague ache.
Other symptoms of angina are shortness of breath, fatigue or feeling faint, sweating, nausea or indigestion and dizziness or lightheadedness.
If you have any new or worsening or severe chest pain that does not go away with rest or medicine or you're experiencing trouble breathing or think you may be having a heart attack you should call 911 and get emergency medical help.
Angina is chest pain or discomfort which comes and goes and Angina can be a sign of a heart attack and so you should seek medical attention if you experience angina.
Angina is not always a heart attack, but you should seek medical attention to be checked out as some people have heart attacks without any symptoms and can have a silent heart attack.
So it's best to get checked out for the angina pain to know for sure what is causing it.
The main symptom of angina is sudden pain in your chest, neck, shoulders, jaw or arms and the pain often feels like tightness, squeezing or pressure, or even feel like a dull ache, and make you feel sick, breathless, dizzy or sweaty.