The time of onset of action of sublingual nitroglycerin in exercise-induced angina pectoris. A methodological study.
Nitroglycerin 0.5 mg sublingually was tested in two exercise protocols in order to determine the time of onset of the anti-anginal action. When patients stopped exertion after nitroglycerin administered at the time of moderate chest pain and one minute before stopping exercise, no anti-anginal or anti-ischaemic effect was seen compared with a placebo-medicated test given double-blindly. When the patients continued exertion after nitroglycerin administered at the onset of chest pain, a significant decrease in chest pain intensity and an improvement in ST-segment depression was seen. It is concluded that administration of a quick-acting anti-anginal drug at the onset of chest pain during continued bicycle exercise provides a suitable test model to determine the time of onset of action in exertional angina pectoris.
D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D005996:Nitroglycerin