Nitroglycerin Ointment shortage
Nitroglycerin Ointment is currently listed in shortage by the FDA. The FDA lists 1 affected product. This page was last refreshed from FDA data on Oct 2, 2026.
AbbVie is permanently stopping production of its nitroglycerin 0.4% ointment. Other makers — including Cosette Pharmaceuticals, Encube Ethicals, Trupharma, and Bryant Ranch Prepack — still list nitroglycerin ointment as available.
Don’t stop or change your therapy on your own — talk with your prescriber about the plan that fits you, and ask your pharmacist what’s actually available (see options).
Do you take this drug? See the ‘What to do’ recommendation from Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD →What’s in shortage — at a glance
These figures count only the manufacturers that reported this shortage to the FDA — not every company that makes Nitroglycerin Ointment. Other makers that haven’t reported a problem are shown in the green card below.
Shortage timeline
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Apr 14, 2026Currently in shortage1 of 1 product affected.
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Apr 14, 2026First reported to the FDA1 product first listed.
Built from FDA posting and update dates. The end date FDA publishes is the posting/update date, not a true resolution date, so durations are approximate.
What exactly is on backorder — by manufacturer
Manufacturer: AbbVie Inc. 📞 800-678-1605 1 NDC click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Be Discontinued | Rectiv, Ointment, 0.4% (NDC 58914-301-80) | — | — | Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug | — |
These rows are manufacturer reports to the FDA for Nitroglycerin Ointment — they do not necessarily cover every manufacturer that makes this drug. A company appears here only if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so other makers may still have stock. That’s the basis for the Where else can I get Nitroglycerin Ointment? options further down this page.
Why is Nitroglycerin Ointment in shortage?
AbbVie has reported to the FDA that they are permanently stopping the manufacture of their 0.4% nitroglycerin ointment, Rectiv (the 80-unit package). That's the only detail they shared — they didn't provide a specific public reason for why they made this decision.
It's worth knowing that this report only covers AbbVie's Rectiv product. It doesn't mean nitroglycerin ointment is disappearing entirely — other manufacturers may still produce their own versions, and those are listed separately on this page.
Based on the manufacturer-reported reason(s) and notes on file with the FDA for Nitroglycerin Ointment, summarized in plain English by HelloPharmacist. A drug can be short for more than one reason, and the FDA updates these as manufacturers report changes.
What should I do if I take Nitroglycerin Ointment?
Nitroglycerin ointment (0.4%) is currently listed on the FDA drug-shortage list. I want to walk you through what this means so you can plan calmly.
The strength involved here is the 0.4% ointment, and right now there is no available source reported for it. The manufacturer on this record, AbbVie (the brand Rectiv), has reported that this product is being discontinued — meaning they are stopping its manufacture. Because this is a discontinuation, this particular supply problem may be permanent rather than temporary. That makes a conversation with your prescriber the right next step.
At the same time, this report reflects only that one manufacturer. The same medicine — nitroglycerin 4 mg/g ointment — is still made by other companies, so it may still be possible to obtain.
Here is what I suggest, in order:
- Do not stop, skip, or change how you use this medicine on your own.
- Ask your pharmacy to check whether the same nitroglycerin ointment is available from another maker, such as Cosette, Encube, Trupharma, Bryant Ranch, or Solaris — though it may not be in local stock right away.
- If it cannot be found, ask your prescriber or pharmacist about a clinician-chosen option.
Manufacturer contact numbers are listed on this page for reference; pharmacies usually handle those calls. This is general, national information and may not match your local pharmacy's actual stock.
- Don’t stop or change the medication on your own — talk to your prescriber first.
- If this is part of an ongoing or essential regimen (for example HIV treatment or prevention, seizure, heart, transplant, diabetes or mental-health medicines), do not skip or ration doses — contact your pharmacist or prescriber right away to arrange continued supply before you run out.
- Ask your pharmacy to check other manufacturers, strengths, package sizes, and nearby stores.
- Ask your prescriber whether a different strength, formulation, or the brand/generic version is appropriate.
Uses, dosing, side effects, prices, and the complete FDA label — written in plain English and pharmacist-reviewed.
Where else can I get Nitroglycerin Ointment?
FDA shortages are manufacturer-reported — a company only shows up on the shortage list if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so not every maker of Nitroglycerin Ointment is necessarily short. Below we pull together the other still-marketed options that are not reported in shortage: the same medicine from manufacturers that haven’t reported a problem, and alternative dosage forms. These may still be out of stock at your pharmacy, and only your prescriber or pharmacist can decide what’s right for you.
Same medicine, other manufacturers (not reported short)
Same active ingredient, dosage form & route as the shortage (matched on the FDB HICL ingredient code), from makers that have not filed a shortage with the FDA:
| Product | Strength | Form / route | Manufacturer | NDC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitroglycerin | NITROGLYCERIN 4 mg/g | Ointment · Rectal | Cosette Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 00713-0564-31 |
| Nitroglycerin | NITROGLYCERIN 4 mg/g | Ointment · Rectal | Encube Ethicals, Inc. | 21922-0048-05 |
| Nitroglycerin | NITROGLYCERIN 4 mg/g | Ointment · Rectal | Trupharma, LLC | 52817-0835-30 |
| Nitroglycerin | NITROGLYCERIN 4 mg/g | Ointment · Rectal | Bryant Ranch Prepack | 72162-2643-03 |
| Nitroglycerin | NITROGLYCERIN 4 mg/g | Ointment · Rectal | Solaris Pharma Corporation | 73473-0500-30 |
Alternative dosage forms of Nitroglycerin
A different form of the same drug (for example a solution when capsules are short). A form change is a clinical decision — ask your prescriber:
Therapeutic equivalents & pricing 7 productsclick to expand
Orange Book–rated equivalents of the affected strengths, with the latest NADAC price (a federal retail-acquisition benchmark, not your copay) and an evidence-based availability label. Cheapest first.
| Product | Manufacturer | Package | NADAC $/unit | AB rating | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitroglycerin 4 mg/g | Cosette | 1 tube | $8.315 | AB | Availability likely |
| Nitroglycerin 4 mg/g | Encube | 1 tube | $8.315 | AB | Availability likely |
| Nitroglycerin 4 mg/g | Trupharma, | 1 tube | $8.315 | AB | Availability likely |
| Nitroglycerin 4 mg/g | Solaris | 30 g | $8.315 | AB | Availability likely |
| Nitroglycerin 4 mg/g | Padagis | 1 tube | $8.315 | AB | Availability likely |
| Rectiv 4 mg/g | Allergan, | 1 tube | $20.586 | — | Availability likely |
| Nitroglycerin 4 mg/g | Bryant | 30 g | — | AB | FDA listed |
Equivalents share the same ingredient, strength, dosage form and route; an AB rating means the FDA considers them substitutable. NADAC is a national retail-pharmacy acquisition benchmark from CMS — not what you pay. Availability is inferred from recent pricing, not a stock check.
Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
Other analgesia/addiction shortages
Nitroglycerin Ointment shortage FAQs
Is Nitroglycerin Ointment in shortage?
Which products are affected?
When will Nitroglycerin Ointment be available again?
Can I still get Nitroglycerin somewhere?
What should I do if I take Nitroglycerin Ointment?
Still have a question about the Nitroglycerin Ointment shortage?
Ask a pharmacist about this shortage →View Nitroglycerin Ointment on the FDA drug-shortage database →
Where does this data come from?
/drug/shortages) — drug, manufacturer & contact, NDC/product, status, availability, reason, therapeutic category and posting/update dates. Current / To Be Discontinued = active; Resolved is kept for history. The Supply-Risk rating is assessed per active ingredient and adds the FDA NDC Directory (still-marketed manufacturers by ingredient & form); same-medicine and equivalent products use First Databank classification + CMS NADAC pricing; Medicaid use + most-affected states come from CMS Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. Reference only — confirm current status with the manufacturer or FDA before acting on it.