What is the typical duration of nitroglycerin’s effect after a single sublingual dose?

• A. 20-30 minutes
• B. 2-4 hours
• C. 5-10 minutes
• D. 60-90 minutes

Answer: (A)

Sublingual nitroglycerin acts quickly but for only a short window. After a single dose, the antianginal effect typically lasts about 20–30 minutes. This short duration comes from how rapidly nitroglycerin is absorbed, distributed, and then cleared from the body; the venodilating effect that lowers preload wanes as the drug is metabolized and redistributed. That’s why the 20–30 minute range best fits the pharmacokinetic reality, whereas longer durations would not reflect the rapid clearance, and shorter durations would not account for the sustained relief seen in this timeframe.