Minitran

Minitran is a prescription medication used to prevent episodes of angina (sudden chest pain). Minitran belongs to a group of drugs called nitrates which work by relaxing (widening) blood vessels making it easier for the heart to pump blood.

This medication comes in patch form and is applied daily. 

Common side effects of Minitran include headache and skin irritation. 

Minitran is a prescription medicine used to prevent angina associated with coronary artery disease (CAD).

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The recommended starting dose range of Minitran (nitroglycerin) is 0.2 mg/hr to 0.4 mg/hr. 

An appropriate dosing schedule for Minitran patches would include a daily patch-on period of 12-14 hours and a daily patch-off period of 10-12 hours.

Do not use Minitran if you are allergic to organic nitrates.

You should not use Minitran if you have the following conditions:

• very recent heart attack
• severe anemia
• increased pressure in the head

Do not use Minitran with drugs for erectile dysfunction, like Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), or Levitra (vardenafil), as this may lead to extreme lowering of your blood pressure.

• Do not breastfeed. It is not known if Minitran will pass through your milk.
• Do not consume alcohol while taking Minitran, as this can lower your blood pressure.
• Do not start any new prescription or non-prescription medicines or supplements, unless you check with your doctor first.

Minitran may cause the following side effects:

• headache
• skin irritation
• lightheadedness
• low blood pressure
• chest pain
• dizziness
• faintness
• flushing

Tell your doctor if you are concerned about any side effects you experience. These are not all the possible side effects of Minitran. For a complete list, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• any medicines that are used to treat angina, heart failure, or an irregular heartbeat.
• any medicines that reduce blood pressure.
• any diuretics (water pills).
• medications to treat depression or psychiatric illness.
• ergotamine or similar drugs for migraine headaches.
• aspirin.
• the blood thinner medicine heparin.
• any medicines for erectile dysfunction.

Do not consume alcohol while taking Minitran, as this can lower your blood pressure.

This is not a complete list of Minitran drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Minitran falls into category C. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Minitran should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. It is not known if Minitran is excreted in human breast milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Minitran is administered to a nursing woman.

Nitroglycerin should be kept in the original glass container and tightly capped after each use to prevent loss of tablet potency.

Do not take nitroglycerin with drugs for erectile dysfunction, like Viagra (sildenafil citrate), Cialis (tadalafil), or Levitra (vardenafil hydrochloride), as this may lead to extreme lowering of your blood pressure.

Nitroglycerin may cause a false test result of decreased serum cholesterol.

Do not consume alcohol while taking nitroglycerin, as this can lower your blood pressure.

You should sit down when taking nitroglycerin tablets and use caution when you stand up. This eliminates the possibility of falling due to lightheadedness or dizziness.