Headaches from monomil isorbide monon... - British Heart Fou...

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Headaches from monomil isorbide mononitrate

Copsem profile image
16 Replies

Started monomil yesterday for heart damage due to radiotherapy. Took 60mg and had big headache but felt better in my chest . Today I read the notes and it says you can start with half a tablet 30 mg and build up . Anyone else done this

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Copsem profile image
Copsem
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16 Replies

Hi Copsem,

I started isosorbide mononitrate a few months ago. I was told to start at 25mg and then increase in 25mg steps till I reached the target dose.

It gave me a terrible headache and I felt I was going t9 keel over every time I stood up!

I worked with my GP and reduced down to 10mg, I have slowly made my way up to my target dose.

This approach worked for me, no more headaches and my BP has stabilised.

Copsem profile image
Copsem in reply to

Oh thank you . I am doing better today on half dose 30 mg . How to you get 10 mg ? Are they different tablets. Mine are 60 with an option to beak in half . Does the effect last a full 24 hours . I woke up a lot last night and had arm ache .

in reply toCopsem

The smallest tablet is 20mgs which I halved.

I still get chest pain so not sure if effect lasts 24hrs, sorry.

Dovaston profile image
Dovaston

Hi I was on 60 mg gave me bad heads. Split tablet in two and effectively took 30 mg morning and 30 mg evening and headaches went away for me ! Good Luck

Copsem profile image
Copsem in reply toDovaston

Oh thank you yes I was wondering if I did that if I would get through the night better

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

I started on 30 mgs and worked up the dosage very slowly over several weeks.

I was lucky no headache just my blood pressure dropping instead.

I now take 90mgs a day with nitrate patches without any problems.

I take mine in the evening 60mgs at 6pm 30mgs at 11pm as my spasms and angina are worse at night.

Patches on at 6pm off in the morning to ensure at least 15 hours break between doses otherwise your body can build up a tolerance to the nitrates and they become less effective.

Copsem profile image
Copsem in reply toMilkfairy

Oh thank you . It looks like a bit of an art form getting the dose right .

in reply toMilkfairy

Hi Milkfairy,

That’s interesting as my angina is worse at night too. May try taking my tablets later. Managed to get up to 100mg.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to

Hi Tynemouth

Spasms at night are a classic symptom of Vasospastic angina especially Coronary artery spasms.

Drives me nuts being woken at night in pain.

I have over the years worked out the best time to take my medication.

Everyone I have been in contact with who lives with vasospastic or Microvascular angina takes their variety of medications at diffetent times.

Bassman65 profile image
Bassman65

Yes I also started on 30mg and got bad headache but it decreased after a week or so ago increased to 60 then 90 now on 120mg and don’t get any headaches

Copsem profile image
Copsem in reply toBassman65

That’s very encouraging thank you

kizza67 profile image
kizza67

I'm only on half a tablet a day but at first I had the most awful headaches I really didn't think I would be able to continue with such pain every daybut doctor told me to persevere with them and after a few weeks they eased off as my body got used to them so stick with it

Copsem profile image
Copsem in reply tokizza67

That’s so encouraging. Thank you . I was going to go back and ask for 20mg rather than 60 mg . Did you do that or are you on 30mg a day . How long did it take to manage the headaches ?

kizza67 profile image
kizza67 in reply toCopsem

I'm on 30 mg a day it took about a month for them to go completely I tried not to use painkillers I used tiger balm rubbed into my temples but that's just me I already take 7 tablets a day so couldn't face another one😂😂

Copsem profile image
Copsem

Could I also ask everyone do you take paracetamol to help with the nitrate headaches does that work ? Is it contraindicated?

in reply toCopsem

Paracetamol isn’t contraindicated with nitrates. I doesn’t touch my headaches ( I have migraines ) but it’s worth a try.

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