Nitroglycerin patch (Absorbed through the skin)

Brand Name(s)

Nitro-Dur, Minitran

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

How to Use This Medicine

Patch

• Your doctor will tell you how many patches to use, where to apply them, and how often to apply them. Do not use more patches or apply them more often than your doctor tells you to.
• This skin patch is usually worn for 12 to 14 hours each day, followed by a "patch-free" period of 10 to 12 hours. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about how much time to allow between wearing the patches.
• This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after applying a patch.
• Leave the patch in its sealed wrapper until you are ready to put it on. Tear the wrapper open carefully. NEVER CUT the wrapper or the patch with scissors. Do not use any patch that has been cut by accident.
• The patient instructions will show the body areas where you can wear the patch. When putting on each new patch, choose a different place within these areas. Do not put the new patch on the same place you wore the last one. Be sure to remove the old patch before applying a new one.
• Do not put the patch over burns, cuts, or irritated skin.
• Put on a new patch if the old one has fallen off and cannot be reapplied.

If a dose is missed:

• If you forget to wear or change a patch, put one on as soon as you can. If it is almost time to put on your next patch, wait until then to apply a new patch and skip the one you missed. Do not apply extra patches to make up for a missed dose.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blue lips or fingernails, or trouble with breathing.
• Fast or slow heartbeat, or increased chest pain.
• Severe or ongoing dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
• Throbbing, severe or ongoing headache, confusion, low fever, or trouble with vision.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Rash or itching of the skin where the patch is worn.
• Sweating or facial flushing.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Introduction

Nitroglycerin (nye-troe-GLIS-er-in)

Prevents chest pain (angina). This medicine is a nitrate.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

• Store the patches at room temperature in a closed container, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Fold the used patch in half with the sticky sides together. Throw any used patch away so that children or pets cannot get to it. You will also need to throw away old patches after the expiration date has passed.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using medicine to treat impotence or erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®), or vardenafil (Levitra®).
• Tell your doctor if you are also using aspirin, niacin, dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), or acetylcysteine (Acedote®, Mucomyst®).
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have low blood pressure, congestive heart failure (CHF), an enlarged heart, or other heart problems. Tell your doctor if you have had a heart attack.
• Medicines that treat chest pain sometimes cause headaches. These headaches are a sign that the medicine is working. Do not stop using the medicine or change the time you take it in order to avoid the headaches. If you have severe pain, talk with your doctor.
• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.
• This medicine may make you dizzy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert. You may feel lightheaded when standing, so stand up slowly.
• During the time you are not wearing the patch, you may have chest pain, especially if you exercise. Discuss this with your doctor.
• Tell the doctor in charge that you are using this medicine before having a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Skin burns may occur at the site where the patch is worn during this procedure. Ask your doctor if the patch should be removed before having an MRI scan. You might need to put on a new patch after the procedure.