What is the adult nitroglycerin dose?

• A. 0.04 mg
• B. 4 mg
• C. 0.4 mg
• D. 0.4 micrograms

Answer: (C)

The standard adult nitroglycerin dose for each dose is 0.4 mg, given sublingually. This small, fast-acting amount is absorbed through the buccal mucosa to cause quick vasodilation, helping relieve chest pain from angina. In typical EMS protocols, you administer one 0.4 mg dose and repeat every 5 minutes as needed, up to three doses, as long as the patient remains able to take it and the blood pressure stays above a safe threshold.

Why the other options aren’t correct: 0.04 mg is ten times too small to achieve a meaningful effect; 4 mg is ten times larger than the standard single dose and could cause hypotension or other issues; 0.4 micrograms uses a different unit and is far too small for an effective dose.