Anyone Else Use Nitroglycerin?

[lorrie]

I use a nitro patch on days that I have that achy heart feeling and use nitro pills for severe chest pains. My cardiologist said it won't hurt me and will help me recover more quickly. It does help.

Just curious if anyone else uses nitro.

[Ernie]

Hi,

My father who had POTS and NCS used nitro.

[Radha]

the nitro doesnt lower your bp? i am concerned about this since my bp is already low but i do get severe angina type chest pain, did your doctor require an official diagnosis of angina or did he just agree to give you nitro based on symptoms and not test results? thanks for any input

Radha

[summer]

Hi lolo,

Probably for most of us with POTS, nitro patches would not be appropriate and would cause severe hypotension. But sounds from your post on another thread that your doctor has good reason to think it is appropriate for you. Sounds like you have found it helpful and that it has not caused you any problems. I have applied many nitro patches for patients over the years as a nurse and our rule was always to apply the patch as long as the BP was greater than 100mmHg systolic. Glad you have found something that helps your chest pain.

Summer

[mkoven]

I've wondered about this. If the docs suspect that the pain comes from vessels being too narrow, and want to dilate them to improve bloodflow, is this the reason to use nitro. What about if your chest pain isn't caused by blockage, but low bp?

[lorrie]

Radha...the decision to use them was after LOTS of testing. I am ashamed to admit that I didn't really ask alot of questions...I just took the doctors advice. My bp usually runs around 125/72 (I have been on high blood pressure meds for years to keep it in this range). My bp only drops during an episode usually. My husband checks my bp during an episode and if my bp isn't too low, I take the nitro.

[summer]

What about if your chest pain isn't caused by blockage, but low bp?

Use of nitro would not be appropriate in this situation, and could be dangerous. Nitro relieves angina by dilating coronary arteries, but in doing so it will dilate all blood vessels and drop BP. Certainly not a drug for most people with POTS. Lolo, sounds like your situation is unique to most of us, and your doctor is treating you for your specific condition and symptoms. I would caution others with POTS that Nitro could be dangerous.

[Gracefulprincess]

I have POTS and NCS, and i'm on nitro for chest pain caused by coronary artery spasms. It helps me a lot.

[mkoven]

Can I asked how the spasms were diagnosed?

[bjt22]

I have POTS and NCS, and i'm on nitro for chest pain caused by coronary artery spasms. It helps me a lot.

So you tolerate this fairly well? I have spasms, too, but have been a little afraid of the nitro. If you have side effects, are they fairly mild?

[Gracefulprincess]

other then getting a throbbing headache for five minutes, i don't usually get many side effects. Some times i might get a bit dizzy so i usually make sure i'm sitting or laying down till i feel ok.

[anna]

I was put on nitro for angina type pain and sever Raynards symptoms, but could not take them due to extrem head pains, I was told headaches in my case were due to some intercranel pressure or some such thing, anyway now I take two forms of calcium channel blockers. Which have reduced angina type pain, bp still all over the place but no more heart pains, or horrid head pains, ah bliss. Oh yes I could not take BB's either so calcium channel blockers last resort!

Anna