Abstract

Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN – nitroglycerin) is one of the oldest synthetic drugs still in widespread use. Sublingual tablets have been used for over a century for rapid, short-term prophylaxis and relief of angina pectoris. More recently three sublingual sprays have been marketed – Nitrolingual (Lipha), Coro-Nitro (Boehringer Mannheim) and Glytrin (Sanofi Winthrop). Advantages claimed for the spray formulation include greater convenience, a more rapid action and a longer storage life. How important are these properties in practice?