The effect of lavender aromatherapy and acetaminophen as preemptive on comfort and Nitroglycerin-induced headache in acute coronary syndrome

Ezati-Soleiman, Roghayeh; Karampourian, Arezou; Khatiban, Mahnaz; Tapak, Leili; Sayadi, Mohammad-Hossein

doi:10.48305/arya.2025.42978.2992

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

² Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, Iran

³ Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mother and Child Care Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

⁴ Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Modeling of Non communicable Diseases Research Center, Health Sciences and Technology Research Institute, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

⁵ Cardiologist, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

10.48305/arya.2025.42978.2992

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nitroglycerin (NTG) improves cardiac ischemia, but one of its side effects is headache. This study aimed to compare the effects of lavender aromatherapy and acetaminophen as preemptive interventions on comfort and NTG-induced headache in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
METHODS: This three-arm randomized clinical trial was conducted on 90 patients divided into three groups of 30. In the acetaminophen group, patients were given 500 mg
of oral acetaminophen approximately 15 minutes before IV nitroglycerin infusion. In the lavender group, 15 minutes before nitroglycerin IV infusion, cotton gauze soaked in three drops of 2% lavender essential oil was used. In the control group, patients received routine care for the treatment of NTG-induced headaches. The severity of patients’ headaches was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) at 5, 10, 15, and 60 minutes after starting nitroglycerin infusion.
RESULTS: The mean headache intensity at the 60th minute in the lavender and control groups was 1.37 ± 1.10 and 2.50 ± 2.43, respectively, while no headaches were reported in the acetaminophen group. The highest mean pain severity recorded at different times was 2.12 ± 0.86 in the control group. Headache severity varied across the intervention minutes among the three groups (p < 0.001). Additionally, post-intervention comfort was significantly higher in the acetaminophen and lavender groups compared to the control group (p < 0.001), with a significant difference observed between the groups (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that acetaminophen can be used as a preemptive agent to reduce NTG-induced headaches and improve the comfort of ACS patients.

Keywords

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ARYA Atherosclerosis Journal

The effect of lavender aromatherapy and acetaminophen as preemptive on comfort and Nitroglycerin-induced headache in acute coronary syndrome

References

References

Volume 21, Issue 3
May and June 2025
Pages 28-37

The effect of lavender aromatherapy and acetaminophen as preemptive on comfort and Nitroglycerin-induced headache in acute coronary syndrome

References

References

Volume 21, Issue 3May and June 2025Pages 28-37

Volume 21, Issue 3
May and June 2025
Pages 28-37