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Healtheuniversity > English > Cardiac College > Treat Heart Disease > Heart Medicines > Nitrates

Nitrates

​Benefits

  • ​Helps relieve angina (chest pain).

​Action

  • ​Relaxes (opens) blood vessels to allow blood (and oxygen) to flow more easily.

​Potential Side Effects

  • ​headaches
  • flushing (increase in blood flow to the skin)
  • low blood pressure
  • fainting or dizziness when sitting up or standing up too quickly

​Common Names

  • ​Nitroglycerine sublingual (Nitrostat®)
  • Nitropatch (Nitrodur®, Transderm-Nitro®)
  • Nitroglycerine sublingual* spray (Nitrolingual pump spray®)
  • Nitropaste (Nitrol®)
  • Hydralazine (Apresoline®)
  • Isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil®)
  • Isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur®)
  • Minoxidil (Loniten®)
  • Nesiritide (Natrecor®)
Last Reviewed: