The effect of sublingually administered nitroglycerin on the contraction of the human gallbladder.

Nitroglycerin (0.5 mg) was administered sublingually either before (n = 10) or after (n = 10) a standard contraction meal (200 ml of cream) during oral cholecystography. In both groups the standard contraction meal caused a significant contraction of the gallbladder. Nitroglycerin had no significant dilatation effect; hence its benefit during an acute attack of pain in a patient with gallstones seems to be questionable.