Wikipedia
Nitrovasodilator
A nitrovasodilator is a pharmaceutical agent that causes vasodilation (widening of blood vessels) by donation of nitric oxide (NO), and is mostly used for the treatment and prevention of angina pectoris.
This group of drugs includes nitrates ( esters of nitric acid), which are reduced to NO in the body. Examples are:
- glyceryl trinitrate (nitroglycerin)
- isosorbide mononitrate and dinitrate
- itramin tosilate
- pentaerithrityl tetranitrate
- propatylnitrate
- tenitramine
- trolnitrate
- and nicorandil (which additionally acts as a potassium channel opener)
Nitrovasodilators which aren't nitrates include molsidomine and its active metabolite linsidomine, as well as sodium nitroprusside. These substances do not need to be reduced to donate NO.