Small molecule
PubChem CID 4510
Nitroglycerin
Nitrostat
- Mechanism of action
- Nitrate vasodilator, releases nitric oxide to relax vascular smooth muscle
- In plain language
- Breaks down in the body into nitric oxide, a natural signal that tells blood vessel walls to relax, widening veins and arteries so the heart doesn't have to work as hard and gets more blood flow, which relieves chest pain from angina within minutes.
- How it works
- Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) is a nitrate vasodilator. Per the FDA label, nitroglycerin forms free radical nitric oxide (NO), which activates guanylate cyclase, increasing cyclic guanosine 3'5' monophosphate (cyclic GMP) in vascular smooth muscle and leading to vasodilation. Venous effects predominate: nitroglycerin dilates postcapillary vessels and large veins, promoting peripheral pooling of blood, decreasing venous return, and reducing left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (preload). It also produces arteriolar relaxation, reducing peripheral vascular resistance and arterial pressure (afterload), and dilates large epicardial coronary arteries.
- Therapeutic applications
- Nitrostat (nitroglycerin) sublingual tablets are FDA-indicated for the relief of an attack, or prophylaxis, of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease. One tablet is placed under the tongue or in the buccal pouch at the onset of an attack, with an additional tablet every five minutes as needed, up to three tablets within a 15-minute period; if chest pain persists, prompt medical attention should be sought.
- Class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Cardiovascular
View
Related compounds