Nitroglycerin administration route

Short-acting nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, are predominantly used for the suppression of acute anginal symptoms. The well-known sublingual (oro-mucosal) route of administration is characterised by... 

Nitroglycerin, the prototype of the nitrates is characterized by a rapid onset and short duration of action. It is usually administered sublingually (via the oro-mucosal route), which allows a rapid and efficient absorption and avoids the strong first pass effect after oral administration. Nitroglycerin is available as tablets, capsules (for sublingual administration) but also as transdermal preparations, sprays, and ointments. 

The oral route is, of course, the principal enteral route of drug administration. However, two other examples are worthy of note. First, the sublingual route (beneath the tongue) provides relatively good absorption because of its rich capillary bed it is routinely used for the administration of nitroglycerin tablets in the treatment of... 

Transdermal This route of administration achieves systemic effects by application of drugs to the skin, usually via a transdermal patch. The rate of absorption can vary markedly depending upon the physical characteristics of the skin at the site of application. This route is most often used for the sustained delivery of drugs, such as the antianginal drug, nitroglycerin (see p. 175). 

Transdermal administration can avoid first-pass metabolism as well as provide a large surface area for continuous-controlled administration of drugs with short biological half-lives and narrow therapeutical indices. The route has been used for nitroglycerin ointments, and transdermal therapeutical systems (patches) have been developed for scopolamine, nitroglycerin, clonidine, estradiol, and nicotine. 

---