Different Forms Of Nitrates

Some medications that open up circulatory paths in your arteries and blood vessels are called nitrates and contain nitroglycerine. Nitrates, medication containing nitroglycerin, relieve chest pain. Chest pain occurs because of a lack of oxygen to your heart caused by arterial blockage. Nitrates, the class of medications known as vasodilators, open up a larger path for blood to flow back to your heart. Types of nitrates include isosorbide mononitrate, isosobide dinitrate and glyceryl trinitrate, Womens Health.gov reports. Many types of nitrates are available to treat angina and chest pain.

Short Term Nitrates

If you experience angina or chest pain sporadically, you may benefit from a short acting nitrate, Womens Health.gov reports. People who take long-term nitrates still benefit from treatment doses with a short-term acting nitrate for chest pain. Long-term nitroglycerin patches, for example, are removed for 12 hours at night to avoid increasing your tolerance of nitrates. This means that your body will still be sensitive to nitroglycerin, because it has time away from the medication. If you take nitroglycerin all the time, its effect will stop being therapeutic, because your body becomes accustomed to the nitroglycerin medication. This problem is called "nitroglycerin tolerance." If you suffer chest pain from emotional stress or activity, you will benefit from a short acting nitrate.

Long Term Nitrates

If you suffer from angina or chest pain numerous times during the day, you will benefit from a longer acting nitrate, according to Womens Health.gov. Medications such as long-acting nitroglycerin medicine will help your blood vessels to dilate or stay open, for continued blood flow, which carries oxygen to your heart.

Topical Nitroglycerin Patch

A topical nitroglycerin patch with common brand names of "Nitro-dur" or "Nitro-derm" is applied to your arms or chest, the American Heart Association indicates. The sites are rotated due to your skin's sensitivity. Many people have redness where the nitro-patch was placed and then removed. Different strengths and dosages of the nitroglycerin patch exist. Your doctor will decide how much nitroglycerin you need in the patch to stop your on-going chest pain or angina.

Nitroglycerin Ointment

Nitroglycerin ointment, another form of nitrate medication, is applied to a waxed paper and taped to your right or left chest or arms, the American Heart Association indicates. The rectangular waxed paper has dosage markers for inches in the middle of the paper. Your doctor will prescribe the amount of nitroglycerin to spread onto the paper in dosage inches. Then, you will apply the paper to your arms or chest. Many people prefer the nitroglycerin patch, as opposed to the nitroglycerin ointment.

Nitroglycerine Pill Form

Nitrates come in pill form, the American Heart Association reports. The small white pills are kept in a small, dark bottle away from light. They are used for sporadic chest pain, which occurs from exertion or emotional stress. Most physicians advise you take one and then proceed to the emergency room by ambulance.

Drug Interactions

Drug interactions include medications that lower your blood pressure and medications used to stimulate penile erection, Drugs.com indicates. If you have any questions about medicines you take, talk to your doctor.