Drug interactions
Nitroglycerin rectal + Sodium nitroprusside
Severity: Moderate
Nitroglycerin rectal and Sodium nitroprusside: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both are nitric oxide donors causing vasodilation, so combined use can lower blood pressure substantially. Rectal nitroglycerin is absorbed systemically to a limited degree, so the effect is usually modest.
What this interaction means in plain words
Nitroglycerin rectal and Sodium nitroprusside can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive nitric oxide mediated vasodilation through cGMP stimulation.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure during nitroprusside infusion and titrate cautiously. Reduce the dose of either agent if hypotension develops.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Sodium nitroprusside
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Nitroglycerin rectal with Sodium nitroprusside?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Nitroglycerin rectal and Sodium nitroprusside can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Both are nitric oxide donors causing vasodilation, so combined use can lower blood pressure substantially. Rectal nitroglycerin is absorbed systemically to a limited degree, so the effect is usually modest.
How serious is the interaction between Nitroglycerin rectal and Sodium nitroprusside?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood pressure during nitroprusside infusion and titrate cautiously. Reduce the dose of either agent if hypotension develops.
What other medicines interact with Sodium nitroprusside?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Sodium nitroprusside with, for example, Avanafil, Nitric oxide, Sildenafil. The full list is on the Sodium nitroprusside page.
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