Now getting episodes out of the blue while sitting at the computer or watching TV and even, on occasion, when getting out of bed in the morning after a relatively, for me, good night's sleep. And have even started getting angina when exercising which rarely happened in the past.
Anyway, saw my GP, told him what has been happening and he suggested I contact my cardiologist about going on to a low dose, 24 hour Glyceryl Trinitrate patch which can be used in conjunction with my Isosorbide Mononitrate 60mg tablet which I take each morning - will double check this when I speak to my chemist as I using my GTN spray should angina issues continue although been told the same rules apply with the GTN spray - use up to twice and if it does not relieve an attack then call an ambulance.
Lucky I can communicate with my cardiologist via email and he replied pretty quickly and agreed. So Monday, it is off to the chemist to get my first box of 5mg/24 hour patches. Just need to find out if I can wear these in the shower and when swimming. I do know you need to vary where you place them on your body to avoid skin irritation.
Minitran patches (glyceryl trinitrate).
Minitran patches contain the active ingredient glyceryl trinitrate, which is a type of medicine called a nitrate. It is used to help the heart work more easily.
What is it used for?
- Preventing angina attacks.
- Minitran 5 patches can also be used to improve the blood supply to the site of an intravenous cannula. In people receiving medicines via an injection or drip (infusion) into a vein of the arm or leg, the patch is applied close to the cannula site to help keep the vein open.
How does it work?
Minitran patches contain the active ingredient glyceryl trinitrate, which is a type of medicine called a nitrate. It is used to help the heart work more easily.
Glyceryl trinitrate works by being converted in the body to a chemical called nitric oxide. This chemical is made naturally by the body and has the effect of making the veins and arteries relax and widen (dilate). When the blood vessels dilate in this way there is more space inside them and hence less resistance. This makes it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body.
Widening the veins also decreases the volume of blood that returns to the heart with each heartbeat. This makes it easier for the heart to pump that blood out again.
As a result of both these actions, the heart does not need as much energy to pump the blood around the body and therefore needs less oxygen.
Glyceryl trinitrate also widens the arteries within the heart itself, which increases the blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
The pain of angina is caused by too little oxygen reaching the heart when its workload increases, such as during exercise. Glyceryl trinitrate improves the oxygen supply to the heart, as well as decreasing the amount of oxygen that the heart needs by making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body. It can therefore be used to treat angina.
Minitran patches are used on a regular basis to help prevent angina attacks. The medicine is absorbed continuously from the patch through the skin and into the bloodstream.
For more information: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/heart-and-blood/a7124/minitran-patches-glyceryl-trinitrate/
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