[Long-term therapy with nitrates. How can continuous effectiveness be achieved?]

Due to rapidly occurring tolerance, "continuous" administration of nitrates can no longer be considered justified. The development of tolerance can be avoided and, thus, the antiischemic effect maintained during long-term treatment only by providing a nitrate-free interval. Dosing regimens with documented effectiveness in long-term controlled studies are available for both isosorbide dinitrate and isosorbide 5-mononitrate as well as for transdermal nitroglycerin systems.