Isosorbide mononitrate
Angina Pectoris, Heart Failure ... show more
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DRUG STATUS
Approvals
US(FDA), UK(BNF)
Essential Medicine
NO
Teratogenicity
Unlisted
Pharmaceutical Class
Nitrate Vasodilator
Isosorbide mononitrate
Know More About This Medicine -
Click HereSummary
Isosorbide mononitrate is used to prevent angina attacks, which are chest pains caused by narrowed heart arteries. It is not used to treat an angina attack that has already begun.
Isosorbide mononitrate is a medicine that relaxes and widens your blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow through them and for the heart to pump. This results in lower blood pressure and improved blood flow through your heart's arteries.
This medicine usually starts at a low dose of 30 or 60 mg once a day in the morning. The doctor might increase it later to a higher dose of 120 mg or sometimes 240 mg, but only after a few days. It is not meant for children.
The most common side effects of Isosorbide mononitrate are headaches and dizziness. Less common side effects include dry mouth, fatigue, stomach problems, pain, upset stomach, constipation, diarrhea, muscle/nerve problems, irregular heartbeat, and changes in liver enzymes.
Isosorbide mononitrate should not be taken if you're allergic to similar medicines like nitroglycerin. It can cause dangerously low blood pressure, especially if you're dehydrated or stand up quickly. Taking it with certain other medicines, such as sildenafil (Viagra), can also cause severe low blood pressure. You might also feel dizzy when you stand up, especially after drinking alcohol.
Indications and Purpose
What is Isosorbide mononitrate used for?
Isosorbide mononitrate extended-release tablets help prevent chest pain (angina) caused by narrowed heart arteries. But, they won't help *during* a chest pain attack; you need different medicine for that. They work by slowly releasing medicine over time to keep chest pain from happening.
How does Isosorbide mononitrate work?
Isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN) is a medicine that widens your blood vessels. This widening lowers blood pressure because there's less resistance to blood flow. It also helps blood flow more easily through your heart's arteries. However, if your blood pressure drops too much, it can sometimes cause your heart to beat slower (bradycardia) and even make chest pain (angina) worse.
Is Isosorbide mononitrate effective?
Isosorbide mononitrate helps chest pain. To work best, you need to take it regularly, especially first thing in the morning. Headaches are a common side effect, showing the medicine is working; you can take aspirin or acetaminophen for those headaches. However, low blood pressure is a possible serious side effect, sometimes causing a slow heartbeat and even *worse* chest pain.
How does one know if Isosorbide mononitrate is working?
Isosorbide mononitrate helps people with chest pain (angina). Doctors use a treadmill test to see how well it works. They measure how long someone can walk on a treadmill before and after taking the medicine. Studies show that taking isosorbide mononitrate increases how long people can walk, meaning it improves their ability to exercise. This benefit was seen both with a single dose and after taking the medicine for several weeks.
Directions for Use
What is the usual dose of Isosorbide mononitrate?
This medicine usually starts at a low dose (30 or 60 mg) once a day in the morning. The doctor might increase it later to a higher dose (120 mg or sometimes 240 mg), but only after a few days. It's not meant for children.
How do I take Isosorbide mononitrate?
Take your isosorbide mononitrate pill as directed, usually first thing in the morning, to help with chest pain. Headaches are normal; don't stop taking the medicine because of them. Don't drink alcohol with this medicine, as it can make you dizzy. There are no special foods to avoid.
For how long do I take Isosorbide mononitrate?
The duration of treatment with valproic acid varies depending on the condition being treated but is often long-term, especially for chronic conditions like epilepsy.
How long does it take for Isosorbide mononitrate to start working?
Isosorbide mononitrate extended-release tablets are for long-term heart pain (angina) control, not for sudden, severe attacks. They work slowly, so they can't help quickly enough when chest pain hits unexpectedly. You need faster-acting medicine for those emergencies.
How should I store Isosorbide mononitrate?
Store isosorbide mononitrate at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep out of reach of children.
Warnings and Precautions
Who should avoid taking Isosorbide mononitrate?
Isosorbide mononitrate is a heart medicine. It shouldn't be taken if you're allergic to similar medicines like nitroglycerin. It can cause dangerously low blood pressure, especially if you're dehydrated or stand up quickly. Taking it with certain other medicines, such as sildenafil (Viagra), can also cause severe low blood pressure. Headaches are a common side effect; reducing them might make the medicine less effective at treating chest pain. You might also feel dizzy when you stand up, especially after drinking alcohol.
Can I take Isosorbide mononitrate with other prescription drugs?
Isosorbide mononitrate widens blood vessels. Mixing it with other things that widen blood vessels, like alcohol, can make blood pressure drop too much, especially when standing up suddenly. Taking it with certain other heart medicines (calcium channel blockers) might also need a change in dosage for one or both. If you take very high doses for a long time, your body can get used to it, and stopping suddenly could be dangerous, even deadly.
Can I take Isosorbide mononitrate with vitamins or supplements?
There are no significant interactions reported between isosorbide mononitrate and vitamins or supplements; however, patients should consult their healthcare provider before combining treatments.
Can Isosorbide mononitrate be taken safely while pregnant?
Isosorbide mononitrate is a medicine, and it's generally best to avoid it during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary. There haven't been enough studies on pregnant women to know for sure. Very high doses in pregnant rats did cause problems for their babies. So, doctors are cautious about using this medicine during pregnancy.
Can Isosorbide mononitrate be taken safely while breastfeeding?
We don't know if this medicine (ISMN) passes into breast milk. Since many medicines *do* pass into breast milk, it's best to be careful and talk to a doctor before taking it if you're breastfeeding.
Is Isosorbide mononitrate safe for the elderly?
For older adults, start isosorbide mononitrate at a low dose. Their bodies might not process it as well as younger people's due to age-related changes in their heart, kidneys, and liver, or because they take other medicines. Be careful if they're dehydrated, take many medicines, or already have low blood pressure, as this medicine can lower it further, potentially causing dizziness, fainting, and a slowed heart rate, which could ironically worsen chest pain. Older people are more likely to fall because of low blood pressure, and this medicine might make angina worse for people with a specific heart condition (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).
Is it safe to exercise while taking Isosorbide mononitrate?
Isosorbide mononitrate tablets, a type of heart medicine, can help some people exercise longer. Lower doses helped for a short time, but higher doses (120mg and 240mg) kept that benefit going longer. It's important to note that this medicine isn't for chest pain that comes on suddenly.
Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking Isosorbide mononitrate?
No, avoid alcohol. It can increase the risk of side effects, such as dizziness, fainting, and low blood pressure.
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