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Transderm Nitro

Heart attack facts

  • A heart attack results when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart muscle and heart muscle dies.
  • The blood clot that causes the heart attack usually forms at the site of rupture of an atherosclerotic, cholesterol plaque on the inner wall of a coronary artery.
  • The most common symptom of heart attack is chest pain.
  • The most common complications of a heart attack are heart failure and ventricular fibrillation.
  • The risk factors for atherosclerosis and heart attack include elevated cholesterol levels, increased blood pressure, tobacco use, diabetes, male gender, and a family history of heart attacks at an early age.
  • Heart attacks are diagnosed with electrocardiograms and measurement of cardiac enzymes in blood.
  • Early reopening of blocked coronary arteries reduces the amount of damage to the heart and im...

Transderm Nitro

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PATIENT INFORMATION

Daily headaches sometimes accompany treatment with nitroglycerin. In patients who get these headaches, the headaches may be a marker of the activity of the drug. Patients should resist the temptation to avoid headaches by altering the schedule of their treatment with nitroglycerin, since loss of headache may be associated with simultaneous loss of antianginal efficacy.

Treatment with nitroglycerin may be associated with lightheadedness on standing, especially just after rising from a recumbent or seated position. This effect may be more frequent in patients who have also consumed alcohol.

After normal use, there is enough residual nitroglycerin in discarded patches that they are a potential hazard to children and pets.

A patient leaflet is supplied with the systems.

Last reviewed on RxList: 3/30/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.

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