This NHS content is written for people in England. Medicine names, availability, prescribing and services may differ in other countries.
Glyceryl trinitrate, or GTN, is a type of medicine called a nitrate. It's used to prevent and treat chest pain caused by angina.
It can help stop chest pain if an angina attack has already started. It can also help to prevent the chest pain starting.
It comes as tablets or as a spray that you put under your tongue. It also comes as patches that you put on your skin.
Sometimes GTN patches are used in hospital to make your veins easier to see if you need to have a drip (infusion).
GTN is also available as a rectal ointment used to treat tears in the skin around your bottom (anal fissures).
GTN rectal ointment is available on prescription. You can buy GTN tablets, spray and patches from a pharmacy.
View the original NHS website page ↗. Refreshed 19 August 2026.
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