Which statement about nitroglycerin precautions is true?

• A. It is safe in all pregnancy categories
• B. It does not require IV access before use
• C. It requires obtaining IV access prior to administration
• D. It has no interactions with PDE-5 inhibitors

Answer: (C)

When using nitroglycerin intravenously, the essential precaution is to have IV access established before starting the infusion. IV nitroglycerin is a potent vasodilator that can cause rapid and potentially dangerous drops in blood pressure. Having an IV line in place allows immediate access to give fluids or vasopressors if hypotension occurs, and it enables precise titration of the infusion while you continuously monitor blood pressure and heart rate. Sublingual nitroglycerin can be given without an IV line, but the IV route specifically requires access beforehand to ensure safety and control.

The other statements are not correct for these reasons: nitroglycerin is not safe in all pregnancy categories and still requires careful consideration; there can be dangerous interactions with PDE-5 inhibitors, making the notion of “no interactions” false.