Questions and Answers
How can I handle my 70 year old mother who gets angina attacks. She some days uses her nitro up to 10 times each day. Is this excessive? How can I help her handle her anxiety attacks and her mental state so she may not be so afraid of having the big one any moment.
I regret I'm not qualified to comment on your mother's mental problems - with nitroglycerine, relief is usual within 1.5 - 3 minutes and lasts up to 30 minutes, dose may be repeated after 4 - 5 minutes, 3 times, if initial relief is incomplete. By the way, nitro loses its potency unless it is stored in a tightly sealed glass container.
There are long-lasting nitrate preparations available including skin patches and ointments. Other drugs used to control angina are beta blockers, propanolol, and calcium blockers, verapamil.
Sublingual nitro has a very short duration of action so that undue side-effects are unlikely, however nitrate tolerance may occur. In the light of your mother's problems, a longer acting preparation or alternate therapy may be considered - consult your physician.