Massachusetts Pharmacy Technician License Practice Test

Which route of administration is likely used by a patient taking nitroglycerin for sudden angina?

1. Intramuscular

2. Oral

3. Subcutaneous

4. Sublingual

The correct answer is: Sublingual

The route of administration most commonly used for patients taking nitroglycerin for sudden angina is sublingual. This method involves placing the medication under the tongue, allowing it to dissolve and be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the mucous membranes. This route is particularly effective for nitroglycerin because it provides rapid onset of action, which is crucial in treating acute angina attacks. The sublingual route bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and hepatic first-pass metabolism, ensuring that a greater concentration of the active drug enters the circulation quickly. This rapid efficacy is essential for relieving angina symptoms, as nitroglycerin works by dilating blood vessels, improving blood flow, and reducing the heart's workload. Other routes of administration, such as intramuscular, oral, or subcutaneous, would not deliver the medication quickly enough to be effective for an acute angina episode. Oral administration would require longer time for the drug to take effect, while intramuscular and subcutaneous routes do not align with the urgency needed to manage sudden angina. Thus, sublingual administration is the preferred method for this scenario.