Description
Side Effects:
Postural hypotension (drop in blood presssure resulting from change of posture), throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, flushing, fainting, temporary hypoxemia (decreased oxygen in the blood), rash, application site reactions with transdermal pathches, angle-closure glaucoma, injection site side effects include severe hypotension, sweating, anxiety, restlessness, muscle twitching, chest discomfort, palpitation, abdominal pain, methemoglobinemia (in long term).
Precautions:
Hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid hormones), malnutrition, hypothermia (lower than normal body temperature), recent history of heart attack, heart failure due to obstruction, hypoxemia (low concentration of oxygen in blood) and other ventilation and perfusion abnormalities, susceptibility to angle-closure glaucome, metal containing transdermals should be remonved before MRI procedures, cardioversion (correction of cardiac rhythm), diathermy (heat application to relieve pain), avoid abrupt withdrawal, monitor blood pressure and heart rate during IV infusion.
Effects on pregnancy and lactation:
The effects are undetermined in pregnancy and lactating females; therefore, caution is advised. Consult your healthcare provider before taking this medication.
Contraindications:
Hypersensitivity to nitrates, hypotensive conditions and hypovolemia (decreased blood volume), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickened heart muscle), aortic stenosis (narrowing of aorta), cardiac tamponade (compression of heart due to fluid), constructive pericarditis (inflammation of membrane surrounding the heart), mitral stenosis (narrowed mitral valve), toxic pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), head trauma, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebrovascular disease, marked anemia.
