What technique should be used for administering sublingual nitroglycerin?

The appropriate technique for administering sublingual nitroglycerin involves placing the tablet under the tongue until it dissolves. This method is critical for ensuring the efficient absorption of the medication into the bloodstream via the sublingual mucosa, allowing for rapid onset of action.

Sublingual nitroglycerin is designed to bypass the gastrointestinal tract and the first-pass metabolism in the liver, which can significantly reduce its effectiveness if ingested in other ways. The sublingual route allows the drug to quickly enter circulation, providing immediate relief from angina or chest pain.

Other methods, such as swallowing the pill with water, chewing and swallowing the pill, or crushing it and mixing with food, would impair the pharmacokinetic properties of nitroglycerin. These techniques either delay absorption or diminish the medication's effectiveness by allowing it to undergo first-pass metabolism, which negates the rapid therapeutic effects intended with sublingual administration.