Common Headache, Dizziness, Flushing of face, Increased heart rate, Orthostatic hypotension (sudden lowering of blood pressure on standing).

Expert advice for Nitrogard Tablet
Headache (‘nitrate headache’) may occur but should go away after a few days of continued treatment. You may develop tolerance to Nitrogard with time, meaning that the same dose may be less effective next time. Follow the prescribed dosing schedule to avoid this. Eat healthy (low-fat, high-fibre, low-sodium diet), quit smoking, limit alcohol intake, increase your physical activity, watch your weight, and reduce stress. Notify your doctor about other medicines (eg. sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil) that you are taking as Nitrogard may interact with them and cause a serious fall in blood pressure. This may lead to collapse, unconsciousness and could be fatal.

Q. What is Nitrogard?
Nitrogard belongs to a group of medicines called nitrate vasodilators.

Q. What does Nitrogard treat?
Nitrogard is used to prevent or stop angina pectoris (chest pain due to blockage of blood vessels of the heart) and stop spasms in the blood vessels of the heart.

Q. Is Nitrogard a vasodilator?
Nitrogard belongs to a group of medicines called nitrate vasodilators. It works by relaxing the blood vessels of the heart, reducing the strain on the heart and making it easier to pump blood.

Q. How does Nitrogard cause vasodilation?
Vasodilation with Nitrogard is achieved by the release of nitric oxide which causes the dilatation (widening) of the blood vessels by relaxing the smooth muscles of the blood vessels.

Q. How is Nitrogard is taken?
Nitrogard is taken in the form of sublingual tablets, sprays, and transdermal patches for the treatment of angina pectoris (chest pain due to blockage of blood vessels of the heart).

Q. Is Nitrogard a beta blocker?
Nitrogard is not a beta blocker. Nitrogard belongs to a group of medicines called nitrate vasodilators.

Q. Is Nitrogard harmful?
Nitrogard is safe if taken for prescribed duration in prescribed doses as advised by your doctor.

Q. Is Nitrogard a steroid?
Nitrogard is not a steroid. Nitrogard belongs to a group of medicines called nitrate vasodilators.

Q. What is Nitrogard spray used for?
Nitrogard spray is used to relieve the pain of an angina attack as soon as it has started. It is also used to prevent angina caused by exercise, emotional stress or exposure to cold.

Q. How does Nitrogard spray work?
Nitrogard spray is a metered aerosol which delivers a fixed amount of Nitrogard, the active ingredient, each time the button is pressed. It is to be used under your tongue and should not be inhaled. It is used to relieve the pain of an angina attack as soon as it has started. It is also used to prevent angina caused by exercise, emotional stress or exposure to cold.

Q. Why is Nitrogard given sublingually?
Nitrogard is given sublingually because it is readily absorbed from the oral mucosa. Nitrogard is also readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, but due to its large breakdown (extensive first-pass metabolism) in the liver, its bioavailability (fraction of a given dose in an unchanged form that reaches the systemic circulation) is decreased.

Q. Does glyceryl trinitrate work like sildenafil?
Both sildenafil and glyceryl trinitrate work by dilation of blood vessels which helps in a better blood flow but the mechanisms are entirely different and they are used for different conditions. Sildenafil is used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and glyceryl trinitrate is used for the treatment of chest pain. Please consult your doctor before taking any medicine for your disease conditions.

Q. Does Nitrogard work?
Nitrogard works if taken in a dose for the time for which it is advised by your doctor.

Q. Why does Nitrogard cause a headache?
Headache is a side effect of Nitrogard and this can be due to the dilation of cerebral arteries (those arteries supplying different parts of the brain). It usually disappears within several days of continued treatment.

Q. How does Nitrogard relieve angina pectoris?
Nitrogard belongs to a group of medicines called nitrate vasodilators. It acts by the release of nitric oxide which causes the dilatation (widening) of the blood vessels by relaxing its smooth muscles. This reduces the strain on the heart by making it easier to pump blood. In this manner, Nitrogard relieves pain in angina pectoris.

Q. How does Nitrogard reduce blood pressure?
Nitrogard reduces the blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels and decreasing the workload of the heart. However, it is not used for the treatment of high blood pressure.