Glyceryl Trinitrate Sublingual Spray (GTN) 180 dose

What is GTN Spray (Glyceryl Trinitrate)?

Glyceryl trinitrate, or GTN, is a type of medicine called nitrate. It is used to treat angina (chest pain).

It can help stop chest pain if an angina attack has already started.

It can also help to prevent them from starting. GTN Spray is a smooth muscle relaxant, which means as your arteries and veins are made of smooth muscle, it helps to relax them quickly and effectively to widen these vessels providing relief from angina attack.

It comes as GTN tablets or as a spray that you put under your tongue. When taken this way it is absorbed quickly into your system. It also comes as patches and ointment that you put on your skin.

Sometimes GTN patches are used in hospitals to make it your veins easier to see if you need to have a drip (infusion).

It's a good idea to learn how to take your GTN spray as soon as you get them. You might need to use them in a hurry if you get an angina attack.

Keep your spray with you all the time, so you can use it if you get chest pain.

You can read the full patient information leaflet here.

How to use GTN Spray

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. 

At the onset of an attack

Spray 1 or 2 sprays under your tongue and immediately close your mouth before breathing through your nose again. If you're still in pain after 5 minutes you can have a second dose of 1 or 2 sprays under your tongue. If you're still in pain after 5 minutes you can have a third and final dose.

Do not use more than 3 doses during an angina attack. 1 dose is either 1 tablet or 1 to 2 sprays.

If symptoms have not resolved after a total of 3 doses (sprays), seek prompt medical attention.

Before using for the first time:

Check that the spray is working by pressing the spray button a few times until it produces a fine mist of liquid. Practice aiming the spray onto a tissue or similar item so that you will be able to aim it correctly under the tongue when you need to use it. If you do not need to use GTN spray very often, remember to check the spray regularly to see that it still works properly.

Ingredients

The active substance is glyceryl trinitrate. Each spray contains 400 micrograms of glyceryl trinitrate.

The other ingredients are peppermint oil, ethanol and 1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane (the propellant).

GTN can only be used by adults aged 18 years and above. Do not give it to children.

This medicine is not suitable for some people. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have:

• ever had an allergic reaction to GTN or any other medicine in the past
• any recent brain or head injuries or problems (including bleeding in your brain and raised pressure in your head)
• ever had a stroke
• any heart problems (other than angina), including a recent heart attack or heart failure
• low blood pressure (hypotension)
• anemia
• glaucoma

You can read the full patient information leaflet here.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the above description and patient information leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for “MHRA yellowcard” in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.