Transdermal nitroglycerin: clinical and pharmacokinetic consequences of renewing the patch and the application site
Objective: We examined whether nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate, GTN) patch treatment for 24 h could induce local cutaneous changes that impaired drug delivery and clinical efficacy. Methods: Twenty angina patients were exercise-tested after 2 and 24 h of treatment and then 2 h after patch renewal. The patch was either renewed on a new skin location or on the previous application site in a randomised, double-blind, cross-over protocol. GTN plasma concentrations and finger plethysmography were obtained before and after each exercise test. Results and conclusions: The clinical efficacy, the effect seen on plethysmography and the GTN plasma concentrations tended to increase after patch renewal, regardless of the application site of the renewed patch. Hence, cutaneous changes of clinical importance could not be demonstrated.