Constant dull ache on left side of chest... will glycerin spray help?

[Jarvice79]

Hi All,

First time post here. I had bypass surgery (x5) a few years back and have had regular pain in my chest since. The doctor at the time said that it was probably caused by smaller blocked arteries that hadn’t been bypassed.

Does the spray work for these dull pains? I’ve been reluctant to use it as I thought it was for acute chest pain or possible heart attack.

Thanks

[Bagrat]

GTN spray is for heart pain caused by reduced blood supply to heart muscle. It relaxes ( dilates) widens blood vessels supplying tbe heart. One side effect is feeling faint and headache.

My OH has used it for pain not caused by heart and fainted BUT he was standing up he said.

Can you discuss this with your GP. If you are going to tty it, make sure you are sitting or lying down.

If you think you are havi g a heart attack I'm sure you would ring 999 as well..

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

The GTN spray will open up the arteries a bit and reduce angina of any level. Advice I’ve had is use it! Lots of people get a bit of a headache after using it, but you do get used to it.

It’s worth mentioning the pain at your next appt, just to check if they think it’s anything else. If they think it’s angina they might try changing your drugs.

[Jarvice79 in reply to Kristin1812]

Hello Kristin,

I mentioned it to my cardiologist as if just moved back to the country and organised a check up. I’ve had a scan and now they want to do an angiogram to investigate suspected reduced blood flow... bit of a nightmare 4 years after bypass. Hopefully medication can help

Thanks

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Jarvice79]

Good. It sounds as if they are looking into it thoroughly. I hope it goes well.

[P0rtnahapp1e]

Be very careful with GTN spray. Because it opens up the blood vessels it can lower blood pressure, which is dangerous if bp is already low.

[Prada47]

Morning

I believe Isosorbide Mononitrate slow release tablets are a possible aid in Preventing Angina type chest aches etc .

Regards

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Prada47]

Isorbide Mononitrate prevents rather than treats angina. Another anti-anginal I found effective was Diltiazem, a CCI (calcium channel inhibitor).

[Prada47 in reply to MichaelJH]

That's what I said Michael LOL

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Prada47]

To be frank I had a bad night (hypo at 3:00am) and was half asleep! 😴

[Prada47 in reply to MichaelJH]

No I edited after your post I did get it wrong lol

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Prada47]

😎

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

GTN spray can help relieve angina pain well quickly. It can be used before you exercise to prevent angina.

As others have said GTN can drop your blood pressure and make you feel light headed and dizzy.

I suggest you sit down when you first use it. It can feel a bit weird when you use it.

Isosorbide mononitrate extended release tablets are useful too.

However you can experience the 'nitrate head's at first. A prolonged headache which does fade after a while.

Then there are GTN patches that can be used too. They release a slow dose of GTN absorbed through your skin over several hours.

There are other medications that can be used to treat angina so lots of other options.

I suggest you go and discuss this with your GP.

If in doubt always call 999 if you have chest pain that is not relieved by using GTN spray.

[Jarvice79]

Thanks for all the replies. In the end I didn’t use it. Today it feels better anyway. I’ll see what happens with the angiogram and speak to gp.