What is the recommended dosage for Nitroglycerin for chest pain?

• A. 0.4 mg spray or tablet SL, repeat every 5 minutes
• B. 0.8 mg
• C. 2 mg IV bolus
• D. 0.4 mg inhalation spray

Answer: (A)

Immediate relief for chest pain comes from nitroglycerin given sublingually because it acts quickly to dilate coronaries and reduce the heart’s oxygen demand. The standard dose is a small sublingual amount of four-tenths of a milligram taken under the tongue, and if the pain continues, the same dose should be repeated every five minutes, up to a total of three doses. This approach provides rapid onset while limiting total exposure.

Safety notes: avoid giving if blood pressure is very low, or if a phosphodiesterase inhibitor has been used recently. Other forms exist, such as inhalation sprays or intravenous infusions, but the sublingual regimen described is the typical first-line dosing for acute chest pain.