Which duration best describes nitroglycerin's action after a single sublingual dose?

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

Answer: (D)

Sublingual nitroglycerin works with a rapid onset to relieve angina, but its effects don’t last long. After a single dose, the antianginal effect typically persists for about twenty to thirty minutes. That short duration fits the purpose of quick, temporary relief rather than long-lasting action. The other timeframes aren’t as accurate for a single sublingual dose: the effect isn’t only a few minutes long, nor does it extend into hours, which is more characteristic of longer-acting formulations. If pain recurs, a new dose is used after a short interval according to guidelines.