Minitran Recall
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                       Questions & Answers
                        
     
    
                                        
                       Side Effects & Adverse Reactions
                        
  
   
    
  
 Amplification of the vasodilatory effects of MINITRAN (nitroglycerin) Transdermal Delivery System by sildenafil can result in severe hypotension. The time course and dose dependence of this interaction have not been studied. Appropriate supportive care has not been studied, but it seems reasonable to treat this as a nitrate overdose, with elevation of the extremities and with central volume expansion. 
 
  The benefits of transdermal nitroglycerin in patients with acute myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure have not been established. If one elects to use nitroglycerin in these conditions, careful clinical or hemodynamic monitoring must be used to avoid the hazards of hypotension and tachycardia.
 
  A cardiovertor/defibrillator should not be discharged through a paddle electrode that overlies a MINITRAN patch. The arcing that may be seen in this situation is harmless in itself, but it may be associated with local current concentration that can cause damage to the paddles and burns to the patient.
 
  
 
                       
                       
                        
     
    
                       
                       Legal Issues
                       There is currently no legal information available for this drug.
                        
     
    
                       
                       FDA Safety Alerts
                       There are currently no FDA safety alerts available for this drug.
                                    
     
    
                       
                       Manufacturer Warnings
                       There is currently no manufacturer warning information available for this drug.
                        
     
    
                       
                       FDA Labeling Changes
                       There are currently no FDA labeling changes available for this drug.
                        
     
    
                       
                       Uses
                        
  
   
    
  
Transdermal nitroglycerin is indicated for the prevention of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease. The onset of action of transdermal nitroglycerin is not sufficiently rapid for this product to be useful in aborting an acute attack.
 
  
 
                       
                        
     
    
                       
                       History
                       There is currently no drug history available for this drug.
                        
     
    
                       
                       Other Information
                        
  
   
    
  
Nitroglycerin is a 1,2,3-propanetriol trinitrate, an organic nitrate whose structural formula is
 
   
 
  and whose molecular weight is 227.09. The organic nitrates are vasodilators, active on both arteries and veins.
 
  The MINITRAN™ (nitroglycerin) Transdermal Delivery System is a unit designed to provide continuous controlled release of nitroglycerin through intact skin. The rate of release of nitroglycerin is linearly dependent upon the area of the applied system; each cm2 of applied system delivers approximately 0.03 mg of nitroglycerin per hour. Thus, the 3.3, 6.7, 13.3 and 20 cm2 system delivers approximately 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg of nitroglycerin per hour, respectively.
 
  The remainder of the nitroglycerin in each system serves as a reservoir and is not delivered in normal use. After 12 hours, for example, each system has delivered about 14% of its original content of nitroglycerin.
 
  The MINITRAN Transdermal Delivery System contains nitroglycerin as the active component. The remaining components of the system (acrylate copolymer adhesive, fatty acid esters, and polyethylene backing) are pharmacologically inactive. Each patch is packaged in foil/polymer film laminate.
 
  Prior to use, a protective peel strip is removed from the adhesive surface. Following use, the patch should be discarded in a manner that prevents accidental application or ingestion by children or others.
 
  
 
                       
                         
     
    
                       
                                                 
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