aspirin vs nitroglycerin
Side-by-side comparison of aspirin and nitroglycerin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Drug interactions Aspirin: Coadministration of nitroglycerin with high dose aspirin (1000 mg) results in increased exposure to nitroglycerin. The vasodilatory and hemodynamic effects of nitroglycerin may be enhanced by concomitant administration of nitroglycerin with high dose aspirin.
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to monitor your blood pressure more closely or adjust your medication doses if you take high-dose aspirin.
Bayer, Ecotrin
Nitrostat, Nitro-Dur
Aspirin is a common medicine used to relieve minor pain. It can also be prescribed by your doctor for other uses.
Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets help to relieve chest pain (angina) due to heart disease. They work by widening blood vessels to improve blood flow.
Aspirin is used to temporarily relieve minor aches and pains. However, it works slowly. It will not quickly relieve headaches or other symptoms that need immediate relief. Ask your doctor about other uses for this medicine.
This medicine treats chest pain called angina. Angina is caused by heart disease. Nitroglycerin can relieve an attack or prevent angina before activities that may cause it.
Aspirin belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs and antiplatelets. It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. It also helps to prevent blood clots.
Nitroglycerin is a nitrate vasodilator. It widens your blood vessels. This lets more blood flow to your heart and reduces chest pain.
- • Upset stomach
- • Heartburn
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Tingling
- Tiredness 31,969
- Shortness of breath 27,184
- Feeling sick to your stomach 26,582
- Loose stools 26,451
- Feeling lightheaded 22,392
- Shortness of breath 4,152
- Pain 3,624
- Tiredness 3,492
- Heart attack 3,394
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,265
No specific warnings noted.
Taking too much nitroglycerin can lead to tolerance, where the drug stops working as well. Nitroglycerin can also cause very low blood pressure, especially if you stand up quickly. If chest pain continues after 3 tablets, get medical help right away.
Ask your doctor for advice if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
It is not known if nitroglycerin will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if nitroglycerin passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This aspirin vs nitroglycerin Comparison
aspirin is classified in the Antiplatelet / NSAID drug class, while nitroglycerin sits within the Nitrate Vasodilator class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, aspirin has 134,578 submissions while nitroglycerin has 17,927. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to taking high doses of aspirin can increase the amount of nitroglycerin in your blood. this makes the nitroglycerin work more strongly to widen your blood vessels and lower your blood pressure.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between aspirin and nitroglycerin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.