Active ingredient
- glyceryl trinitrate
Legal Category
P: Pharmacy
P: Pharmacy
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.
Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original leaflet can be viewed using the link above.
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL16431/0018 .
Glyceryl Trinitrate Spray 400 micrograms per metered dose, Sublingual spray
Package leaflet: Information for the user
Glyceryl Trinitrate Spray
400 micrograms per metered dose,
Sublingual spray
glyceryl trinitrate
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Glyceryl Trinitrate Spray is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Glyceryl Trinitrate Spray
3. How to use Glyceryl Trinitrate Spray
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Glyceryl Trinitrate Spray
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. WHAT GLYCERYL TRINITRATE SPRAY IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Your medicine is called Glyceryl Trinitrate Spray. It will be referred to throughout this leaflet as GTN Spray.
It is a sublingual (under the tongue) aerosol spray that contains the active ingredient glyceryl trinitrate. Glyceryl trinitrate belongs to a group of medicines called nitrates that relax the muscle walls of the blood vessels and reduce the workload of the heart.
GTN Spray is used to treat angina at the onset of an attack. It is also used for the prevention of angina, which can be brought on from physical effort, emotional stress, and exposure to cold, etc.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU USE GLYCERYL TRINITRATE SPRAY
Do not use GTN Spray:
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before using GTN Spray if any of the following apply to you:
Please consult your doctor, even if these statements were applicable to you at any time in the past. You may need to be more closely supervised during treatment.
Children and adolescents
Do not give this medicine to children and adolescents under 18 years.
Other medicines and GTN Spray
Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Do not use GTN Spray if you are taking:
Talk to your doctor before using GTN Spray if you are taking or have recently taken any of the following:
GTN Spray with alcohol
Be careful about drinking alcohol as GTN Spray may affect you more than usual. Both alcohol and GTN Spray may lower your blood pressure and slow down your reactions.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are, or think you might be pregnant, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. GTN Spray should not be used if you are breastfeeding.
Driving and using machines
Your reactions may slow down. Therefore, you should avoid driving and using machinery whilst using GTN Spray.
GTN Spray contains ethanol
This medicine contains 7.5 mg of alcohol (ethanol) in each spray. The amount in one spray of this medicine is equivalent to less than 1 ml beer or 1 ml wine. The small amount of alcohol in this medicine will not have any noticeable effects.
Continuous use warning
Continuous use of GTN Spray and other nitrates may reduce effectiveness at relieving your symptoms, so high continuous doses should be avoided.
3. HOW TO USE GLYCERYL TRINITRATE SPRAY
1. GTN Spray is not recommended for children.
2. Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
3. Learn how to use GTN Spray before the onset of an angina attack, as you may need to use it in a hurry, or in the dark. Familiarise yourself with the spray button, which has a finger rest to help you direct the spray.
4. Keep a spare handy at all times as it can be difficult to tell how many doses are left in the canister.
5. Do not use GTN Spray if you are near a naked flame, e.g. a cigarette.
6. Before using GTN Spray 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.
7. At the onset of an attack, or to prevent an imminent attack:
8. The usual dose is one or two sprays. No more than three doses are recommended at any one time.
9. After using GTN Spray, rest for a while. When you stand up, rise slowly, as you may feel faint.
If you use more GTN Spray than you should:
Special treatment is not normally required. Overdose symptoms are usually the same as the stated side effects. Some people may experience a reaction similar to shock, with nausea, weakness and sweating. If you feel faint sit down and raise your legs. Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve. Rarely a bluish colour to lips/ fingers may occur (cyanosis or methaemoglobinaemia). If this happens contact your doctor immediately.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
If you experience one of the following rare serious side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people unless specified), stop taking GTN Spray immediately and consult your doctor:
Continuous use may result in a tolerance to GTN Spray, reducing its effectiveness. If symptoms are not relieved, medical advice should be sought immediately.
Other known side effects are:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people) Headache
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) Vertigo (spinning sensation), dizziness, nausea, facial flushing, weakness
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) Burning sensation, stinging sensation
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) Severe fall in blood pressure, heart rhythm change
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people) Flaking or peeling skin
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE GLYCERYL TRINITRATE SPRAY
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What GTN Spray contains:
What GTN Spray looks like and contents of the pack
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Manufacturer:
For information in large print, audio CD or braille please contact the Marketing Authorisation Holder.
This leaflet was last revised in March 2021.
4 Rotherbrook Court, Bedford Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3QG, UK
+44 (0)1730 231148
+44 (0)1730 231148