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This page presents data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and the FDA-approved drug label. A report submitted to FAERS does not prove a drug caused the reported event. Always consult a healthcare provider about medications.

Nitroglycerin

nitrate vasodilator
Last updated: June 20, 2026
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Nitroglycerin is a medication, a nitrate vasodilator. According to the FDA-approved label, Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are indicated for the acute relief of an attack or acute prophylaxis of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease. Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are a nitrate vasodilator indicated for relief of an attack or prophylaxis of angina pectoris. FAERS contains 52,548 submissions naming this drug from 1999 through 2026; the top three reactions cited are dyspnoea, pain, and fatigue.

Most-Reported Reactions

Counts of the reactions most often cited in FAERS submissions that named Nitroglycerin. Inclusion here does not establish causation - submitters describe what was observed, not what was confirmed. One submission can list several reactions, so the totals exceed the report count.

DYSPNOEA 4,227 (8.0%) PAIN 3,658 (7.0%) FATIGUE 3,563 (6.8%) MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION 3,407 (6.5%) NAUSEA 3,312 (6.3%) DRUG INEFFECTIVE 2,980 (5.7%) DIZZINESS 2,975 (5.7%) CHEST PAIN 2,968 (5.6%) FALL 2,930 (5.6%) DIARRHOEA 2,717 (5.2%) HEADACHE 2,627 (5.0%) RENAL FAILURE 2,515 (4.8%) ASTHENIA 2,434 (4.6%) DEATH 2,430 (4.6%) HYPOTENSION 2,274 (4.3%)

Patient Demographics

Patient sex and age across the FAERS submissions that named Nitroglycerin. Percentages here are computed only from submissions where these fields were filled in - many leave them blank.

By Sex

Female Male Unknown

By Age Group

0-17 18-44 45-64 65+

Severity Outcomes

Severity flags recorded across the 52,548 FAERS submissions that named Nitroglycerin. Each bar shows the count of those reports carrying that flag. A single case can carry more than one (a hospitalization that became life-threatening, for example), so these bars are independent rates - they don't sum to 100%. Inclusion of a case under any flag does not establish that the drug caused the outcome.

DEATH 6,932 (13.2%) HOSPITALIZATION 24,032 (45.7%) LIFE-THREATENING 2,858 (5.4%) DISABLING 1,636 (3.1%)

Submissions Per Quarter

Quarterly count of FAERS submissions that named Nitroglycerin. Ups and downs on this chart can track prescribing volume, news cycles, or shifts in how reports get filed, rather than the drug becoming safer or more dangerous.

1999 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

From the FDA-Approved Label

Excerpts from the official FDA-approved prescribing information for Nitroglycerin. This is the authoritative source on indications, warnings, and known adverse reactions.

Indications

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are indicated for the acute relief of an attack or acute prophylaxis of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease. Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are a nitrate vasodilator indicated for relief of an attack or prophylaxis of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease. ( 1 )

Adverse Reactions (from label)

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are discussed in more detail elsewhere in the label: • Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] • Headache [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] • Hypersensitivity [see Contraindications (4.4) ] Vertigo, dizziness, weakness, palpitation, and other manifestations of postural hypotension may develop occasionally, particularly in erect, immobile patients. Marked sensitivity to the hypotensive effects of nitrates (manifested by nausea, vomiting, weakness, diaphoresis, pallor, and collapse) may occur at therapeutic doses. Syncope due to nitrate vasodilatation has been reported. Flushing, drug rash, and exfoliative dermatitis have been reported in patients receiving nitrate therapy. Most common adverse reactions occurring at a frequency greater than 2% are headache, dizziness and paresthesia. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Viatris at 1-877-446-3679 (1-877-4-INFO-RX) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

FDA label effective date: 2024-10-15

Disclaimer

AdverseEvent.ai is not affiliated with the FDA. Adverse-event counts come from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Drug labels come from the FDA drug label dataset. A report submitted to FAERS does not prove a drug caused the reported event — always consult a healthcare provider about medications. This site is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.