Nitroglycerin, also sometimes called glyceryl trinitrate, is an organic nitrate compound first synthesized in the 1800s and thereafter used in the manufacturing of dynamite. It has been used for almost as long as a medication because it is a vasodilator. It has been prescribed to treat heart conditions for many years, and has at times been studied for treating erectile dysfunction. Recently however interest has surged as placebo controlled clinical trials have been published demonstrating the effectiveness of a nitroglycerin cream for treating ED.

Nitroglycerin may also be used as a treatment for anal fissures in the form of a topical ointment.