How often should a nitroglycerin dose be repeated if chest pain persists and there are no contraindications?

• A. Only once
• B. Every 15 minutes
• C. Every 30 minutes
• D. Every 5 minutes

Answer: (D)

Nitroglycerin acts quickly to relieve chest pain by widening the blood vessels, so if pain continues and there are no contraindications, it should be given again at short, safe intervals to provide rapid relief. The standard interval is every five minutes, allowing a prompt reassessment of how the patient is responding while monitoring blood pressure and any side effects. In most guidelines this can be done up to three times within about 15 minutes, as long as the patient remains stable and there are no contraindications. If pain persists after the third dose or the patient’s blood pressure drops, seek emergency care immediately.