Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) Nursing Considerations

Hey guys, let’s take a look at the drug nitroglycerine. Also known as Nitrostat. This is an oral sublingual transdermal and IV medication. And here you can see it in a few different forms. So the therapeutic class of nit Ogly or how it works in the body is an antianginal also a vasodilator, the pharmacologic class or chemical effect of the drug as a vasodilator. So nitroglycerin works by entering vascular smooth muscle nitric oxide is formed, which causes vaso dilation. We use nitroglycerine for the prevention of angina for heart failure, anal FIS, severe hypertension and acute MI. So some of the side effects that nitroglycerine can cause are hypotension, headache, dizziness, and orthostatic hypotension. Guys. It’s important that you teach your patients that headache is common and not to stop taking this medication because of this, tell them to report it to their provider before they stop taking the medication. 

So nursing considerations for nitroglycerine, in addition to the side effects mentioned, nitroglycerine may cause blurred vision, dry of the mouth and skin reactions. Nitroglycerine should not be used in patients who have severe anemia or increased intracranial pressure monitor the hemodynamics of your patient as well as their chest pain, teach your patient to not use nitroglycerine are using any erectile dysfunction medications, and also they should limit their alcohol use. So guys in surgery, where I work, we actually use nitroglycerine paste occasionally during breast reduction procedures that require a free nibble graft, which mean removing the nipple entirely and then reattaching it. So nitroglycerine is applied to this area to increase the blood flow to the nipple. That’s it for nitroglycerine or Nitrostat now go out and be your best self today and as always happy nursing.