GTN Sublingual

GTN contains the active ingredient glyceryl trinitrate.Glyceryl trinitrate works by releasing a chemical called nitric oxide which also made naturally by the body and has the effect of making the veins and arteries relax and widen (dilate). This increases the space within the blood vessels and therefore reduces the resistance within the blood vessels, which makes it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body.

Widening the veins also decreases the volume of blood that returns to the heart in the veins with each heartbeat, and this makes it easier for the heart to pump that blood out again. As a result of both these actions, the heart requires less energy to pump the blood around the body and therefore does not need as much oxygen.

The medicine also widens the arteries within the heart, and this increases the blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle.

The pain of angina is caused by too little oxygen reaching the heart when its workload increases, such as during exercise. Glyceryl trinitrate makes it easier for the heart to pump blood and so decreases the amount of oxygen that the heart needs, as well as improving the oxygen supply to the heart. It can therefore be used to relieve the pain of an angina attack.

Glyceryl trinitrate is taken as a tablet that is dissolved under the tongue, or as a spray that is sprayed under the tongue which has a large supply of blood vessels that allows the medicine to be rapidly absorbed. Glyceryl trinitrate taken in this way is used to give rapid relief from an angina attack, and can also be used to prevent an anticipated attack, for example before exercise.

Glyceryl trinitrate is also available as long acting tablets, skin patches and ointment that are used regularly each day to help prevent angina attacks.