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Nitroglycerin Skin Patches are used to prevent chest pain (angina). They work by relaxing the blood vessels to the heart, so the blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart is increased. Nitroglycerin Skin Patches is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Nitroglycerin comes as a patch you apply to the skin. It is usually applied once a day. Your doctor may tell you to remove the patch at a certain time each day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use the nitroglycerin skin patch exactly as directed. Do not apply it more or less often than prescribed by your doctor. Nitroglycerin Skin Patches control chest pain but do not cure it. Continue to use the nitroglycerin skin patch even if you feel well. Do not stop using the nitroglycerin skin patch without talking to your doctor. Stopping the drug abruptly may cause chest pain. Apply the patch to clean, dry skin that is relatively free of hair (above your knee) or upper arm (above your elbow). Avoid irritated, scarred, broken, and calloused skin. Select a different area each day to avoid skin irritation. Be sure to remove the patch before you apply another one. If the patch loosens or falls off, replace it with a fresh one. Fold the used patch in half with the sticky sides together and dispose of it carefully. The patch still contains active medication that could be harmful to children or pets. Nitroglycerin can lose its effectiveness when used for a long time. This effect is called tolerance. If your angina attacks happen more often, last longer, or are more severe, call your doctor. |