Where should a sublingual nitroglycerin tablet be placed?

Where should a sublingual nitroglycerin tablet be placed?

• A. On my skin
• B. Inside my cheek
• C. Under my tongue
• D. In the lower lid of my eye

Answer: (C)

Placing the tablet under the tongue is used for rapid relief of angina because this area has a rich blood supply and a thin mucous membrane, allowing the medication to dissolve quickly and enter the bloodstream directly. This sublingual route bypasses the liver’s first-pass metabolism, producing a faster onset than other forms. The tablet should dissolve completely there rather than being swallowed, chewed, or placed elsewhere; swallowing or other locations would delay absorption and reduce effectiveness.

Placing the tablet under the tongue is used for rapid relief of angina because this area has a rich blood supply and a thin mucous membrane, allowing the medication to dissolve quickly and enter the bloodstream directly. This sublingual route bypasses the liver’s first-pass metabolism, producing a faster onset than other forms. The tablet should dissolve completely there rather than being swallowed, chewed, or placed elsewhere; swallowing or other locations would delay absorption and reduce effectiveness.