Q. I know that Viagra is incompatible with nitrate-based drugs, but I’m really not sure which drugs contain nitrates. Could you list them, or at least give me an idea of which drugs should be avoided while I’m using Viagra?
A. Of the various nitrate-based drugs, the generic category most familiar to the general population is nitroglycerin, which is prescribed to treat the chest pains caused by angina pectoris. Most often, the tiny nitroglycerin tablet is placed under the tongue to dissolve and hopefully relieve the pain.
This drug is available under a long list of brand names, including Deponit, which delivers the drug via a transdermal patch; Minitran; Nitrek; Nitro-Bid, also available in ointment form; Nitrodisc; Nitro-Dur; Nitrogard; and Nitrogen. Other brand-name nitroglycerin medications include Nitrolingual, which comes in an oral spray; Nitrong; Nitro-Par; Nitro-Time; and Transderm-Nitro.
Another category of nitrate-based drugs is isosorbide mononitrate, which comes in tablet form under the brand names Imdur, Ismo, and Monoket and is prescribed to treat angina. Prescribed for both angina and heart failure, isosorbide dinitrate is sold under the brand names Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, and Sorbitrate.
Other nitrate-based drug categories include erythritol tetranitrate, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, and sodium nitroprusside. These latter three are sold under their generic names and are prescribed to treat angina and/or intractable high blood pressure.