Nitroglycerin and Heparin Interaction

Drug interaction information between Nitroglycerin and Heparin.

Nitroglycerin and Heparin have a documented minor interaction in FDA labeling.

FDA drug labeling documents a minor-severity interaction between Nitroglycerin and Heparin. This page displays the available source-record category and label text. The category is not an individual risk estimate or medication-combination direction.

Drug A

Nitroglycerin

Nitrate Vasodilator

Drug B

Heparin

Unfractionated Heparin

How They Interact

Nitroglycerin can make heparin less effective at thinning the blood, which changes how quickly the blood clots.

FDA Label Information

Intravenous nitroglycerin administered to heparinized patients may result in a decrease of the partial thromboplastin time with subsequent rebound effect upon discontinuation of nitroglycerin. Careful monitoring of partial thromboplastin time and adjustment of heparin dosage are recommended during coadministration of heparin and intravenous nitroglycerin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What SPL severity band is on file for Nitroglycerin + Heparin?

Compiled FDA labeling labels this pair minor. That is a source-record field, not an individual medication-combination decision.

Which drug in this pair has the larger labeled-interaction portfolio?

Heparin has 20 labeled pairs on file vs Nitroglycerin's 8. In the minor band specifically: Nitroglycerin has 6 (also Aspirin, Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Isradipine); Heparin has 10 (also Amlodipine/Valsartan, Levothyroxine, Liothyronine, Oritavancin).

What mechanism field is on file for Nitroglycerin and Heparin?

Nitroglycerin can make heparin less effective at thinning the blood, which changes how quickly the blood clots.

Heparin's labeled portfolio outnumbers Nitroglycerin

SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is minor · classes on file: Nitroglycerin (Nitrate Vasodilator); Heparin (Unfractionated Heparin).

Nitroglycerin

0 major · 2 moderate · 6 minor · 8 total

Heparin

0 major · 10 moderate · 10 minor · 20 total

Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL) via openFDA (2026). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This registry does not provide individual medication-combination directions.