Nitrolingual is a branded medication that you spray into your mouth. It can be used to both prevent attacks of angina and treat the symptoms of angina attacks when they appear.
Angina is a common condition which causes a tight chest and breathlessness when your heart muscles don’t get enough blood and oxygen. Bouts of these symptoms are usually called ‘angina attacks’, and they can also make you feel dizzy and your arms feel heavy. They can also feel frightening or distressing to a lot of people, so learning when one might be about to happen so you can try to prevent or prepare for it can make a lot of difference.
Angina attacks can sometimes be triggered by you exercising or becoming stressed. In these cases angina can be treated by taking Nitrolingual and resting, but it can also be used before exercise to prevent an attack from happening. These types of angina attacks are usually called ‘stable angina’.
But sometimes angina attacks can be unpredictable - especially when they’re caused by underlying health issues rather than physical or environmental triggers. This form of angina, known as ‘unstable angina’, is often caused by a clot or calcium deposit in your blood vessels, disrupting the natural flow of blood to the heart. But while Nitrolingual can be used to treat both stable and unstable angina, you should seek medical help straight away if you experience symptoms of unstable angina. This is because it can put you at a very high risk of a heart attack, so you shouldn’t rely on Nitrolingual alone to help with these symptoms.
How does Nitrolingual work?
Nitrolingual is a branded treatment used to both prevent and treat angina attacks. It works by widening your blood vessels, allowing more blood and oxygen to enter your heart muscles, which makes it easier for blood to be pumped around your body. As a result, drugs like Nitrolingual are often considered to be one of the best options for treating angina.
What doses of Nitrolingual are there?
Nitrolingual is available in one dosage size: 400mcg. So if it’s not working as you’d hoped in treating or preventing your symptoms, you should let our clinician know. You might need to use another treatment as well, or have a surgical procedure to help your condition if medications aren’t working.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Nitrolingualglyceryl trinitrate
How to take Nitrolingual
You should always take your treatment as directed by a clinician.
You’ll usually be told to:
hold the bottle upright with your finger on the button
open your mouth and put the bottle in front of your chin so that the direction of spray will go into your mouth
press the button firmly so that the puff of the medicine goes under your tongue
close your mouth
avoid breathing in as you take the puff of medicine
You should also make sure you keep the spray with you at all times and know how to use it. It might also be a good idea to show your friends and family how to use it.
Keeping a spray on you, as well as spares at home and at your workplace, will help to make sure that you have the treatment that you need during an attack.
You should also check the spray once a week to make sure that it’s working.
How long does it take Nitrolingual to work?
When you use Nitrolingual before an attack, or to treat an attack that you’re currently experiencing, it should start to work within minutes. If you're currently suffering from an attack and you’ve taken a dose of Nitrolingual, you should wait five minutes before taking another dose. If you’re still struggling with your symptoms after another five minutes, you should call an ambulance.
What should I do if I make a mistake when using Nitrolingual?
If you forget to take it before exercising then you can take it as soon as you remember. Simply stop what you’re doing, find somewhere comfortable to sit and take the spray. You should then wait for a few minutes for the medication to get to work before you carry on exercising, and make sure that you don’t double up on doses to make up for any missed ones.
If you’ve taken more Nitrolingual than you should have done then you might start to feel faint. If you feel like your symptoms aren’t going away, or are getting worse, call 999 straight away.
If you develop a blue tinge on your fingers and lips, seek medical attention straight away.
If your side effects don’t lessen or disappear, you should seek medical advice.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Nitrolingualglyceryl trinitrate
Nitrolingualglyceryl trinitrate
FAQ: Nitrolingual
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How is Nitrolingual different from other treatments for angina?
Answer:
There aren’t any other treatments that work in the same way that glyceryl trinitrate does (which is the active ingredient in Nitrolingual). Nitrolingual offers immediate relief from the effects of an angina attack by widening your blood vessels to allow more blood to enter your heart muscles. There are other drugs that are prescribed to treat angina that have a similar effect on the blood vessels, but they don’t work as quickly as Nitrolingual.
Beta blockers are often prescribed for the long-term management of angina. They allow for more blood to enter your heart by widening the vessels in your heart and around your body. But because they’re a long term treatment they can’t be used to prevent or treat an angina attack.
Calcium channel blockers are also prescribed as a long-term treatment for angina, but they’re not suitable for use during an attack, and won’t offer relief from your symptoms during an attack.
Because of this, it’s often recommended that you use one of these long-term treatments for angina alongside a medication like Nitrolingual in order to minimise your symptoms and discomfort if they appear. The long-term treatments work to help you from getting angina attacks on a daily basis.
Do I need a prescription for Nitrolingual?
Answer:
Yes. Nitrolingual needs to be prescribed so that a clinician can monitor how you’re getting on with both the treatment and your condition. They’ll also want to make sure that it’s safe and suitable for you to use before they prescribe it.
Is Nitrolingual similar to any other treatments?
Answer:
Nitrolingual is a branded version of the generic treatment, Glyceryl Trinitrate. Glyceryl Trinitrate also comes as a spray, and because both of these treatments contain the same active ingredient, they’ll both work in much the same way to treat and prevent angina attacks. But because Glyceryl Trinitrate isn’t branded like Nitrolingual is, it’ll typically be a little bit cheaper.
Why should I buy Nitrolingual online with Treated?
Answer:
Getting the right medication that you need to live a happy and active life can sometimes be a long winded and frustrating process. We’ll recommend treatments that are tailored for you, and you can choose your medication from our options.
Once you’ve received your treatment, we’ll get in touch to see how you’re getting on with it. And if you’ve got any questions or concerns, you can ask us whenever you like. You just need to sign in to your account and send our clinician a message.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
