What is a contraindication for administering nitroglycerin?

The correct answer is that hypotension or use of erectile dysfunction medications within the last 24-48 hours is a contraindication for administering nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator, meaning it relaxes blood vessels, which can lead to a decrease in blood pressure. If a patient is already experiencing hypotension, administering nitroglycerin could dangerously lower their blood pressure further, potentially leading to serious complications like syncope or shock.

Additionally, the concurrent use of erectile dysfunction medications (such as sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil) can cause severe hypotension when combined with nitroglycerin. Both types of medications work to relax blood vessels, and their combined effects can lead to profound drops in blood pressure. Therefore, it is critical to confirm whether a patient has taken these medications within the specified time frame before administering nitroglycerin.

Other options, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or asthma, do not present the same level of immediate risk when considering nitroglycerin administration. While careful monitoring and clinical judgment are always necessary in the case of patients with these conditions, they do not outright contraindicate the use of nitroglycerin as hypotension and recent use of erectile dysfunction medications do.