How to use Nitroglycerin ointment for fissures?

Why did doctors prescribe this medication?

People who have coronary artery disease can use nitroglycerin ointment in the treatment or prevent episodes of angina. In this disease, the arteries that supply the blood to the heart will be narrowed. This medication comes under the class of medication known as nitrates. Around the blood vessels, it works by relaxing the muscles that reduce pressure inside the anus and relieves pain. 

To treat pain from anal fissures, this medication only used for adults. If the attack of angina has begun, it can not be used in the treatment because this medication can only be used to prevent attacks of angina not in the treatment. When your heart needs to work as hard to get oxygen, in that case, your healthcare professionals prescribed this medication to prevent angina, by relaxing the blood vessels.

How should nitroglycerin ointment be used?

Nitroglycerin is available in the form of an ointment to apply to the skin. usually, your healthcare professionals will prescribe you this medication to apply every 12 hours for up to 3 weeks to treat anal fissure pain and twice a day to prevent angina, once in the morning after waking, and then again after 6 hours later. Ensure to follow the directions exactly on your prescription label carefully because the length and dosage of treatment depend on your medical condition and response to treatment.

When you are using this medication for 3 weeks and you are still having anal fissure pain, at this state you have to contact your doctors or pharmacists. Don’t ever try to take less or more of this medication than prescribed by your doctor or pharmacists. If you don’t understand any of the parts then ask your health care provider to explain all the things again. With nitroglycerin ointment, your healthcare professionals can also prescribe another medication such as bile salts to take. 

How to apply nitroglycerin ointment for fissures?

1. Before using nitroglycerin ointment, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water very gently.
2. With a plastic wrap, finger cot, or disposable surgical glove, cover your finger.
3. After that on the side of the medicine box lay your covered finger next to the dosing line.
4. At one end of the dosing line, your fingertip should be at.
5. Now onto your finger squeeze the ointment.
6. For a single dose only, you should have used 1 inch of ointment.
7. After that up to the first finger joint, insert your finger inside the anus.
8. Start spreading the ointment around the inside of the anus.
9. In case if you feel more pain you can also apply the ointment outside the anus.

Never discontinue using this medication even if you feel well. Always remember that nitroglycerin ointment does not cure coronary artery disease, it only helps to prevent angina attacks. Without talking to your healthcare professionals don’t stop using nitroglycerin ointment.

What special dietary plans should I follow?

Always follow your dietary recommendations and exercise plan made by your healthcare professional. Ask your doctor for instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity. If your doctor didn’t give you any instructions, you can continue your normal diet.

What are nitroglycerin ointment side effects?

Nitroglycerin ointment is a medication that can be used only for serious side effects. That’s why this medication can only be used by people who have some serious side effects. Without your healthcare professionals don’t try to use this medication and they will suggest this medication by judging the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Don’t try to use it for a longer time period than prescribed. 

Contact your healthcare professionals immediately, if you are having any of these side effects or symptoms mentioned below while you are using the nitroglycerin ointment medication. 

Some common side effects of this medication:

• You’ll feel redness or irritation in your affected area.
• You’ll feel flushing.
• You’ll feel lightheaded.
• You’ll feel dizziness.
• You’ll feel headaches.
• Your blood pressure will start falling down slowly.

Some serious side effects of this medication:

• You’ll feel rash.
• You’ll feel hives.
• You’ll feel a slow heartbeat.
• You’ll feel difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• You’ll feel worsening chest pain.
• You’ll feel fainting.
• You’ll feel itching.

Always remember that after each dose of this medication a headache can occur. For treating headaches, your healthcare professionals prescribed some non-prescription pain reliever. This is not the complete list of all symptoms and side effects of this medication. In case, if you are facing any unusual problems and do not go away or are getting worse then immediately contact your health care professionals. This ointment may also cause some other side effects also.

If you are in the United States and you are facing these serious side effects or someone near you then you can contact the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or call at 1-888-463-6332 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

What are other uses of Nitroglycerin ointment?

Your health care professional can also prescribe this medication for other uses and you can ask them for more information or other uses of nitroglycerin ointment.

What special precautions could I take?

If you have experienced or faced any of the problems mentioned above then contact your health care professionals immediately. Follow all the mentioned precautions carefully, these are all precautions that you can take while using this product.

You should have followed this special precaution before using nitroglycerin ointment:

• Alcohol can create the side effects from this ointment worse. So, when you are using nitroglycerin ointment, before drinking the alcohol ask your doctor about all the safe uses of alcoholic beverages.
• If you have or ever had a condition in which pressure is increasing in your brain or skull or if your red blood cells number are lower than the normal numbers (known as anemia)  then tell your doctor and pharmacist. 
• During your treatment with nitroglycerin ointment, you may experience headaches every day. For treating headaches, your healthcare professionals prescribed some non-prescription pain reliever. And remember headaches may be a sign that the medication is working properly. So, don’t try to change the time period of using this medication in order to avoid headaches. In case if you did this maybe the medication can not work properly.
• If you are allergic to nitroglycerin ointment, tablets, spray, or patches, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in this medication then tell your doctor and pharmacist and ask them for all ingredients of this medication by which you are allergic.
• If you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant and you want to take this drug then tell your doctor and pharmacist immediately.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery while using nitroglycerin ointment then tell your doctor and dentist.
• Until you know how nitroglycerin medication affects you, Don’t ever try to drive a car because this drug may make you dizzy or not operate any machinery until you see clearly.
• If you have or have ever had low blood pressure, have had a heart attack recently, think that your body may be dehydrated, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, migraines or recurrent headaches, or heart failure then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
• If you are taking some vitamins, nutritional supplements, prescription, and non-prescription medication or drugs and any other drug or medicine, and herbal products, or planning to take them while using this medication then tell your doctor and pharmacist. And be ensure to mention these medicine if you are taking: nadolol, propranolol, sotalol, calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine (Plendil), isradipine, nifedipine.
• If you start taking the treatment with this medication you should know about the common problem you’ll face that when you try to get up too quickly from a lying position you’ll feel dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting especially if you have been drinking alcoholic beverages. So, if you want to avoid this problem then stand up from bed slowly, and for a few minutes, before standing up, rest your feet on the floor.

What happens if I overdose?

Due to the overdose of the nitroglycerin ointment, some of the symptoms or side effects can occur. So, if you have experienced any of the following side effects mentioned below in the list then contact your healthcare professionals immediately.

Some symptoms of overdose of nitroglycerin ointment:

• You’ll feel fever.
• You’ll feel dizzy.
• You’ll feel a slow or pounding heartbeat.
• You’ll feel nausea.
• You’ll feel vomiting.
• You’ll feel bloody diarrhea.
• You’ll feel faint.
• You’ll feel a headache.
• You’ll feel the bluish coloring of the skin.
• You’ll feel sweating.
• You’ll feel the loss of ability to move the body.
• You’ll feel tired.
• You’ll feel confused.
• You’ll feel shortness of breath.
• You’ll lose consciousness for a period of time.
• You’ll feel seizures.
• You’ll feel a flush.
• You’ll feel cold, clammy skin.

What can I know about the storage and disposal of this medication?

Store this medication at room temperature and keep them away from light or excessive heat and moisture. And put them away from the reach of the pets and children, we suggest you put that medicine in a tightly closed container in which they came. 

You should have disposed of all the medication that is unneeded in a special way to ensure that children, pets, and other people can’t consume them. You can not flush them or pour them into the drain. You can return them to the pharmacist or the best way is that you can take back the program for returning your medicines.

What do I do if I forget a dose?

If you forgot to take this medication and if it is near the time of your next dose then we suggest you please skip that dose and take it at the next dose at the regular time. Don’t take the dose at irregular times. It makes your dose double.

What other information should I know?

If you are taking any prescription and non-prescription medication or drugs, while you are using this medication, it is very important to tell your healthcare professionals about this. To make it easy and unforgettable, you can create a list of all prescription and non-prescription medications or drugs and any other drug or medicine you are taking. You can show that list to your healthcare professionals or pharmacists at the time of visit or meeting them. It would help you in case of emergencies. It would help you in case of emergencies.

At the time of meeting your healthcare professionals, don’t forget to carry the laboratory report. And the most important thing is to never miss your doctor and laboratory appointments because your healthcare professionals will check the response of this medicine then he/she will tell you the update or other pieces of information. So, keep all your appointments with your doctor, pharmacist, and the laboratory. And before having any laboratory test, if you are already taking this product then tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel. Talk to your healthcare professionals if you feel your health condition is getting worse or your dose may need to be adjusted.

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