A patient with a history of angina is prescribed nitroglycerin tablets to manage acute chest pain. During an episode, the patient becomes very anxious and requests medication. How should the medical assistant instruct the patient to take the nitroglycerin tablet for the fastest relief?
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Instruct the patient to chew the tablet thoroughly before swallowing for quick absorption.
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Recommend placing the tablet in the cheek pouch (buccal administration) and wait for it to absorb.
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Tell the patient to swallow the tablet with a full glass of water for immediate relief.
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Advise the patient to place the tablet under their tongue without swallowing and wait for it to dissolve completely.
Nitroglycerin tablets for angina are commonly administered sublingually (placed under the tongue) for rapid absorption into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and liver, which allows for a quicker onset of action. Having the patient drink water before placing the tablet ensures that the mucous membranes are moist, facilitating faster dissolution and absorption of the medication. The incorrect options are less effective: chewing or swallowing cause the medication to pass through the digestive tract before absorption, which delays its effect, and placing it in the cheek pouch (buccal administration) is not the standard method for nitroglycerin in acute angina.
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