What is the correct route of administration for Nitroglycerin and nitrates?

Nitroglycerin and nitrates are commonly administered sublingually to achieve rapid relief of angina symptoms. The sublingual route allows the medication to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the mucous membranes under the tongue, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and the first-pass metabolism in the liver. This results in a much quicker onset of action, typically within 1 to 5 minutes, which is ideal for the acute management of angina pectoris.

This mode of administration is especially important given that nitroglycerin is often used in emergency situations where prompt relief of chest pain is necessary. While nitroglycerin can also be given by other routes, such as intravenously for continuous, controlled delivery in a hospital setting, the sublingual method remains the most effective for immediate treatment at home or in outpatient settings.

Administration by intramuscular or oral routes is less efficient for the purpose of rapidly alleviating angina symptoms, as both methods involve additional time for absorption and onset of therapeutic effects, which is not suitable for the urgency that nitroglycerin is designed to address.