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- $Unique_ID{BRK03273}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{pentaerythritol tetranitrate}
- $Subject{Duotrate Plateau Caps Jones Medical Naptrate Vortech Pentylan Lannett
- Peritrate Parke-Davis SA Antianginal pentaerythritol tetranitrate
- angina chest pain dilates widens blood vessels oxygen heart}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- pentaerythritol tetranitrate
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- Duotrate Plateau Caps (Jones Medical)
- Naptrate (Vortech)
- Pentylan (Lannett)
- Peritrate (Parke-Davis)
- Peritrate SA (Parke-Davis)
- P.E.T.N. (various manufacturers)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Antianginal
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- pentaerythritol tetranitrate
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Tablets (10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg)
- Sustained-release tablets (80 mg)
- Sustained-release capsules (30 mg, 45 mg, and 80 mg)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Pentaerythritol tetranitrate should be stored at room temperature in
- tightly closed containers. This medication loses potency if exposed to heat
- or moisture.
-
- USES
-
- Pentaerythritol tetranitrate is used to prevent angina (chest pain). It
- dilates (widens) blood vessels, which increases the oxygen supply to the
- heart, thereby preventing chest pain. It is not effective in relieving pain
- once an angina attack has begun.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- To ensure that the maximum amount of medication is absorbed into the
- bloodstream, you should take pentaerythritol tetranitrate on an empty stomach
- at least 30 minutes before or one hour after a meal with a glass of water
- (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise).
- The sustained-release tablets or capsules should be swallowed whole.
- Chewing, crushing, or breaking these tablets or capsules destroys their
- sustained-release activity and possibly increases the side effects.
- If you miss a dose of this medication and remember within two hours (six
- hours for the sustained-release tablets or capsules), take the missed dose
- immediately and then return to your regular dosing schedule. If more than two
- hours have passed (six hours for the sustained-release tablets or capsules),
- do not take the missed dose at all; just return to your regular dosing
- schedule. Never double the dose (unless your doctor specifically directs you
- to do so).
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Dizziness, flushing or redness of the face and neck, headache,
- light-headedness, nausea, or vomiting. These effects should disappear as your
- body adjusts to the drug.
- If you feel dizzy or light-headed, sit or lie down for a while; get up
- slowly from a sitting or reclining position, and be careful on stairs.
- The use of acetaminophen may help relieve mild headaches that you may
- experience when taking this drug.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- fainting, palpitations, or skin rash.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- Alcohol can increase the blood-pressure-lowering effects of
- pentaerythritol tetranitrate, which can lead to serious side effects. You
- should, therefore, avoid drinking alcoholic beverages at any time while taking
- this medication.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to pentaerythritol tetranitrate or to any other
- nitrate product (such as erythrityl tetranitrate, isosorbide dinitrate, or
- nitroglycerin).
- * Before you take this drug, be sure to tell your doctor if you have ever
- had anemia, a heart attack, or thyroid disease.
- * If this medication makes you dizzy or light-headed, avoid taking part
- in any activity that requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating
- potentially dangerous machinery.
- * Tolerance to this drug can develop after prolonged use. If you begin
- to notice a decrease in effectiveness, contact your doctor. Do not increase
- the dosage of this drug unless you first check with your doctor. Also,
- stopping the drug abruptly can lead to a worsening in your condition. Your
- doctor may, therefore, want to reduce your dosage gradually.
- * Before taking any over-the-counter (nonprescription) cough, cold,
- allergy, asthma, sinus, or diet preparation, check with your doctor. Some of
- these products can reduce the effectiveness of pentaerythritol tetranitrate.
- * If you find whole or partially dissolved sustained-release tablets or
- capsules in your stool, contact your doctor. This indicates that you are not
- digesting and absorbing the tablets or capsules completely.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Although
- pentaerythritol tetranitrate appears to be safe during pregnancy, extensive
- studies in humans have not been conducted. Also, tell your doctor if you are
- breast-feeding an infant. It is not known whether pentaerythritol
- tetranitrate passes into breast milk.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-