Why Is Glyceryl Trinitrate Administered Sublingually?

GTN sublingual tablets are designed to dissolve quickly under the tongue. This area of the mouth has a large supply of blood vessels that allows the medicine to be rapidly absorbed. Glyceryl trinitrate taken in this way is used to give rapid relief from the pain of an angina attack.

Why is nitroglycerin given sublingually instead of orally?

Glyceryl trinitrate (or nitroglycerin) undergoes extensive hepatic presystemic metabolism when given orally. Therefore, it is usually given by the sublingual route, by which it is well absorbed and rapidly taken up into the circulation.

Can glyceryl trinitrate be given sublingually?

Glyceryl trinitrate must be placed under the tongue (administered sublingually) and retained in the mouth until dissolved or discarded. A local burning or tingling sensation may occur. Hypersensitivity to the active substance, to other nitro compounds, or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.