Nitrate drugs are used to treat the symptoms of angina and chest pain. Nitrate drugs relieve an attack that is occurring, in what is referred to as “Nitro” preventing attacks from occurring using the medicine just before an attack occurs. This can be when strenuous activity has taken place and a person has a particular history of heart problems or in reducing the number of attacks that occur by using the medicine regularly on a long-term basis.

Nitrate drugs are taken orally and are used to reduce the number of angina attacks that a person may have. When Nitrates are in this form, they are not strong enough to prevent a heart attack and work by relaxing blood vessels and increasing the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its work load. The drug dilates the blood vessels helping the blood flow more freely. Nitrates that are taken to stop a heart attack or an attack of angina they are a much stronger dose causing the blood vessels to dilate more rapidly which is why most patients complain of a headache after having it administered.

Nitrate drugs can be used for other conditions but that is a decision for your doctor. Nitrates are only available on prescription and the drug is strongly controlled. You must not take nitrate drugs with impotence medications such as Viagra or Cialis.

As with any medicine Nitrates can have reactions with other drugs and you should be honest with your doctor about any pre-existing conditions or drugs that you may already be taking. Things to consider if you are taking nitrate drugs are allergies and if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to nitrates or nitrites. Your doctor will also need to know if you are allergic to any other substances, such as certain foods, preservatives, or dyes. It is known that allergies can affect the way the drugs work and could cause an adverse reaction.

Nitrates have not been studied in pregnant women so it is advisable that they should not be taken by women who are pregnant or think they may be pregnant. Doctors do not know if these medicines pass into breast milk and should be avoided if breast feeding.

Nitrates are not prescribed for children as no studies have been conducted on what nitrates do to young bodies. However adults may experience dizziness or lightheadedness.

When taking nitrates, there are many other medicines that should not be used, amongst these are antihypertensive which is used for high blood pressure, or other heart medicines because it may increase the effects of nitrates on blood pressure. Patients should also not use Sildenafil, which is Viagra, or Tadalafil, which is Cialis or Vardenafil, which is Levitra all of these drugs are used to treat erectile dysfunction and should not be taken with nitrates.

Your doctor should be consulted before taking new medicines which should always be taken as directed.