Prescribed Nytrogliceryn For Severe Abdominal Pain Prior To Stool Movement. Suggestions?
Nitroglycerin will increase the risk of fainting.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic!
It appears to me that whenever you are having difficult bowel movements, you have to strain a lot and this causes pain. Both the pain and the strain contribute to causing a vasovagal response, which occurs because the part of the nervous system that regulates heart rate and blood pressure malfunctions. Your heart rate slows, and the blood vessels in your legs widen. This allows blood to pool in your legs, which lowers your blood pressure. This drop in blood pressure and slowed heart rate quickly diminish blood flow to your brain, and you feel dizzy and can even faint. As soon as you lie down, the blood flow to the brain is restored by the change in posture and so you feel better. This kind of vasovagal syncope is well-known and can also occur after prolonged standing or straining during micturition or excessive coughing.
What surprised me was the suggestion of using sublingual nitroglycerin during these episodes as nitroglycerin dilates the blood vessels and encourages pooling of blood in the limbs, thus increasing the possibility of fainting. In fact, sub-lingual nitroglycerin is used to induce vasovagal syncope while performing a tilt test to confirm the diagnosis of syncope.
Although vasovagal syncope may be a benign symptom, at least a basic cardiological evaluation should be carried out, including electrocardiogram and echocardiography. I guess that you must have undergone these investigations many times and no problem was detected. In that case, there is no need to worry. Just avoid constipation and excessive straining during bowel movements. Take lots of fibre in your diet and use a stool softener like lactulose if needed. If an attack still occurs, do not worry and just lie down or bring your head down. This will restore blood flow to the brain and prevent fainting.
Hope this is of help. Please feel free to ask if you need any clarifications.
Best wishes.
Dr Preeti Parakh
MD Psychiatry