Isosorbide Mononitrate
About Isosorbide Mononitrate
Isosorbide Mononitrate is used to treat angina pectoris, in which the blood vessels of the heart narrow unexpectedly and suddenly. This leads to decreased blood flow to the heart's muscles, which in turn causes suffocation and tight pain in the chest, neck, or arm area.
Isosorbide Mononitrate works by the formation of the free radical nitric oxide (NO) inside our body, which leads to the relaxation of muscles of blood vessels, especially of the heart, leading to proper blood flow towards the heart muscle.
The common side effects of Isosorbide Mononitrate include nausea, dizziness & headache. In case of any discomfort, speak with a doctor.
Before starting Isosorbide Mononitrate, please inform your doctor if you have any allergy (against any nitrate), have suffered a heart attack/stroke, or have an eye disease called glaucoma. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Uses of Isosorbide Mononitrate
Medicinal Benefits
- Isosorbide Mononitrate belongs to a class of medicines called nitrate vasodilators.
- These operate by relaxing the blood vessels of the heart, reducing the stress on the heart and making it easier to pump blood.
- Isosorbide Mononitrate is used to prevent attacks of angina pectoris.
- Angina usually feels like tight chest pain, neck or arm area. The pain originates from the heart muscle and is a sign that part of it is not getting enough oxygen for the amount of work it is doing.
Directions for Use
- Isosorbide Mononitrate can be taken with or without food as advised by your doctor.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication to ensure safety.
- Swallow Isosorbide Mononitrate as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not chew, crush or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Isosorbide Mononitrate
- Fainting
- Low blood pressure
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Swelling of eyelids, face or lips
- Rash or itching, especially those covering your whole body
Drug Warnings
- Inform your doctor if you are allergic to Isosorbide Mononitrate.
- Communicate to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Isosorbide Mononitrate if a patient has low performing thyroid gland, is undernourished because of a poor diet, has severe liver/kidney problems, suffers from hypothermia (very low body temperature),
- Let your doctor know if you suffer from very poor blood circulation, have had any lethal damage to the heart, such as a heart attack or suffer from a disease called glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Care should be exercised when Isosorbide Mononitrate is administered in combination with Sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil used to treat male erection dysfunction, Isosorbide dinitrate, which is used for angina, Blood pressure-lowering drugs like ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers (atenolol, propranolol), calcium channel blockers (nifedipine, diltiazem), angiotensin-II receptor agonists (olmesartan medoxomil, candesartan cilexetil), clonidine, diazoxide, diuretics, methyldopa, moxonidine, Dihydorergotamine used for migraine & Tricyclic antidepressants (used to treat depression).
Drug-Food Interaction: Avoid taking Isosorbide Mononitrate alongside alcohol.
Drug-Disease Interaction: People affected with liver disease, low red blood cell count (Anaemia), Kidney failure (dialysis), low blood pressure (hypotension), and Increased pressure inside the eye, called glaucoma, should not take Isosorbide Mononitrate.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeDo not drink alcohol. It could increase the effect of Isosorbide Mononitrate and lower your blood pressure too much. If this happens, you may feel dizzy or faint.
Pregnancy
consult your doctorIf you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorIf you are a breastfeeding mother, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving
unsafeIsosorbide Mononitrate may cause headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, or tiredness. Make sure you are not affected before you drive or operate machinery.
Liver
consult your doctorA patient is advised to take this drug only during a doctor's consultation as there have been reports of interactions between liver patients and Isosorbide Mononitrate.
Kidney
consult your doctorA patient is advised to take this drug only on doctor's consultation as there have been reports of interactions between Kidney patients and Isosorbide Mononitrate.
Children
unsafeIt is not to be given to children unless prescribed by a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle will help you keep your cholesterol and blood pressure down, keep your arteries clear and avoid angina.
- Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat sources of protein such as nuts and fish.
- Regularly workout.
- Maintain a healthy weight and keep your diabetes in check.
- Stop smoking.
Special Advise
- Avoid vigorous physical activity that may aggravate anginal attack.
- Avoid smoking.
- A patient should avoid places where airflow is restricted.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Angina or chest pain: It is the most common indication of heart disease caused due to decreased blood flow to heart muscles. The heart is dependent on oxygen for its functioning and pumping of blood, yet sometimes, due to various genetic and environmental reasons, the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart narrow unexpectedly, causing decreased blood flow to the heart. This abrupt decrease in blood flow leads to increased stress on the heart to pump blood towards different organs causing an event of acute chest pain that starts from the arm along the jaw and finally involves the chest. Angina pectoris is of 3 types:
1) Stable Angina: is the most common type in which blood flow to the heart is low as compared to what it needs to function, caused by increased physical activity.
2) Unstable angina: is the most lethal type in which blood supply to the heart decreases abruptly due to blockage of the artery by a clot, etc.
3) Variant angina: occurs at rest due to spasmodic narrowing of the artery.
FAQs
Isosorbide Mononitrate is used for a heart condition called angina pectoris. It works by relaxing the blood vessels of the heart, reducing the stress‚ on the heart and making it easier to pump blood.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. If it's too late, jump to the next dose. Never attempt to take a double dose, as it may lead to serious harmful implications.
No drastic fall in blood pressure is seen, and it is never advised except for a few antihypertensives, that too only under doctor consultation.
No, ergot-based drugs have been found to have interaction with Isosorbide Mononitrate; thus, they are not advised.
No, the interaction produced causes severe hypotension or a decrease in blood pressure.
It can induce throbbing headaches, reddening of the skin, chills along with sweating, nausea, vomiting, and quick heartbeat if you take more than the prescribed dose of Isosorbide Mononitrate. Seek emergency treatment and seek urgent consultation with your doctor if you are taking more than the prescribed dosage of this drug.
Isosorbide Mononitrate may cause side effects such as dizziness, fainting, headache, nausea, low blood pressure, and swelling of eyelids, face or lips. If these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Yes, Isosorbide Mononitrate may affect the heart rate. Isosorbide Mononitrate decreases blood pressure, which further causes a decrease in the heart rate (bradycardia). In some cases, it may also cause an increase in the heart rate (tachycardia). If you notice a change in your heart rate or feel unwell after taking Isosorbide Mononitrate, consult your doctor.
If you remember the forgotten dose of Isosorbide Mononitrate within 12 hours, you can take it. However, if you remember it after 12 hours of the scheduled time, then skip the missed dose and take the next dose.
No, do not stop taking Isosorbide Mononitrate without first consulting your doctor. Discontinuing it suddenly may increase the risk of an anginal attack. If you have any concerns regarding this, please consult your doctor.
Your doctor may recommend you to take Isosorbide Mononitrate once or twice daily depending on the dosage. When a single dose is recommended, then it is best to take it in the morning. If taking it twice a day, keep a 7 hours interval between the two doses to decrease the chances of Isosorbide Mononitrate becoming ineffective (tolerance) after some time.
Yes, Isosorbide Mononitrate can lower blood pressure. Isosorbide Mononitrate widens the blood vessels and decreases the resistance in them, resulting in lower blood pressure, which in turn decrease the heartbeat and can lead to angina. Thus, Isosorbide Mononitrate should be avoided in people who already have low blood pressure. If you have any concerns, discuss with your doctor.
No, do not take sildenafil with Isosorbide Mononitrate as taking these two medicines together may cause a severe decrease in blood pressure, fainting, and even a heart attack. In addition to this, avoid taking other medicines belonging to similar classes such as tadalafil and vardenafil.
Yes, Isosorbide Mononitrate comes in the form of dividable tablets. However, you should not break it in two halves unless advised by your doctor. Taking excess or less medicine can lead to side effects or decreased effectiveness. This can ultimately affect the course of treatment.
Isosorbide Mononitrate contains Isosorbide mononitrate as its active ingredient.
Isosorbide Mononitrate works by the formation of the free radical nitric oxide (NO) inside our body, which leads to the relaxation of muscles of blood vessels, especially of the heart, leading to proper blood flow towards the heart muscle, which has been working under immense pressure due to decreased blood flow to it. Thereby, it reduces the blood pressure and load on the heart.
