Studies of the bioavailability of nitroglycerin from a transdermal therapeutic system (Nitroderm TTS).
In 6 healthy volunteers, intravenous infusions of nitroglycerin 4.8 and 10.6 micrograms/min yielded mean steady-state plasma concentrations of 0.5 +/- 0.02 and 0.82 +/- 0.04 ng/ml as determined by a gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method. The plasma concentrations reached in the same subjects 17 h after application of Nitroderm TTS 5 and 10 with in vivo release rates of 3.7 and 5.7 micrograms/min were 0.28 +/- 0.01 and 0.37 +/- 0.01 ng/ml, respectively. Thus, 75% of the quantity of nitroglycerin released by the systems passed into the circulation. The inter-individual and intra-individual variations in plasma concentrations were similar for both modes of administration. The nitroglycerin-induced morphological changes in the fingerpulse wave were clearly dose-dependent, but it seems that this pharmacodynamic parameter is determined less by the plasma concentration than by the nitroglycerin content of the vascular wall.
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D001682:Biological Availability; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D005996:Nitroglycerin