nitrate tolerance

Last reviewed 01/2018

  • can be avoided in most patients if there is a nitrate- free interval of 10-12 hours per day.
  • may be the result of depletion of intracellular suphydryl groups which prevents further nitrate metabolism and nitric oxide release.
  • reversed within 18 hours of stopping nitrates.
  • if tolerance is supected in the case of modified isosorbide dinitrate (and conventional preparations of isosorbide mononitrate) then the second of two daily doses can be given after about 8 hours rather than after 12 hours.
  • there is no relationship to tolerance to adverse and therapeutic effects.
  • toleance may develop in less than 48 hours after the initiation of treatment with nitrates.