Comparison of two transdermal nitroglycerin systems: Transderm-Nitro and Nitro-Dur

Sixty-four patients with stable angina pectoris were enrolled in a four-week, multicenter, office-based study to compare the adhesive properties of an patients' preferences for two transdermal nitroglycerin systems, Transderm-Nitro (TDN) and Nitro-Dur (ND). Each patient simultaneously wore one 0.2 mg/hr (formerly 5 mg/24 hr) TDN patch and one 0.2 mg/hr ND patch. At the first and last study visits, patients completed questionnaires that assessed preferences based on ease of application, handling, and removal; ease of removing the backing; overall adhesion; adhesion under certain conditions; comfort; curling or rolling; and skin irritation. Each day of the study, patients recorded the number of anginal episodes experienced, frequency of sublingual nitroglycerin use, patch adhesion, and problems at the sites of application or any other medical problems. Differences in adhesive properties were statistically significant in favor of TDN over ND (P less than or equal to 0.001). Of the TDN patches, 98.5% adhered completely, compared with 81.8% of the ND patches. No serious or unexpected adverse reactions occurred. Overall, patients preferred TDN to ND by a statistically significant margin (P = 0.0002).