Common side effects of nitroglycerin include all of the following EXCEPT:

Common side effects of nitroglycerin include all of the following EXCEPT:

• A. Hypertension
• B. Headache
• C. Dizziness
• D. Orthostatic hypotension

Answer: (A)

Nitroglycerin works by releasing nitric oxide to relax smooth muscle, causing venous dilation (and some arterial dilation) that lowers preload and overall blood pressure. Because of this vasodilatory effect, the most common side effects come from the BP drop and the resulting physiological responses: headaches from dilation of cerebral vessels, dizziness from lower systemic pressure, and orthostatic hypotension when standing due to pooling of blood and reduced cerebral perfusion. A rise in blood pressure isn’t expected with nitroglycerin’s action, so hypertension isn’t a typical side effect. This is why hypertension is the exception among the listed options.

Nitroglycerin works by releasing nitric oxide to relax smooth muscle, causing venous dilation (and some arterial dilation) that lowers preload and overall blood pressure. Because of this vasodilatory effect, the most common side effects come from the BP drop and the resulting physiological responses: headaches from dilation of cerebral vessels, dizziness from lower systemic pressure, and orthostatic hypotension when standing due to pooling of blood and reduced cerebral perfusion. A rise in blood pressure isn’t expected with nitroglycerin’s action, so hypertension isn’t a typical side effect. This is why hypertension is the exception among the listed options.