Isosorbide Mononitrate (Relosorb XL)

[WardijaWardija]

I have been taking the above Nitrate 60mgs daily for 1 week now.

Fortunately, I have not had any adverse side effects and I take it around 06am each morning.

I was put on this medication following having 3 stents put in, back in July. Apparently there was a 4th blocked artery that was not possible to be stented, and post-stenting it was causing me problems/stable angina, I was told, hence the Relosorb.

However, now for the second time in the same week, whilst doing the exact same activity (grocery shopping - moderate exertion) I became really breathless, dizzy with pain in my shoulders and the base of the back of my neck - and feeling like i was going to pass out. All the same symptoms that I had experinced before my stents were put in. These sensations do pass if I'm able to sit down for 10 minutes or so.

I have never had any acute chest pain. Very occasionally I'm aware of a dull sensation on the left side which reminds me of what I have had done, but other than that, nothing.

I was wondering if anybody else has, or had the same symptoms? And maybe was put on the higher dose of Nitrate to take care of it?

Thank you

[Frenchbulldogsx]

Hi

I was put on this following mi, I took 1 tablet and it felt like I was having another mi. Pain in throat, back of head. Headache. Consultant discontinued it and prescribed amlodopine which has been fine.

I have nitrate spray which thankfully I've not had to use.

[WardijaWardija in reply to Frenchbulldogsx]

Hi. Thanks for your reply. Yes, once I had read the patient information sheet, I was stunned to see the extensive list of negative and unpleasant side effects. To be honest, I sat on them for 3 weeks before I bit the bullet and started on them. Fortunately I didn't experience any adverse side-effects.

However, on the flip-side, I don't think these meds. are working for me - hence my bouts of angina. Either I am just resistant to them (as I am with many medications), so might just need a higher dose, or like yourself - may need a change of medication.

I too have the spray but have never used it.

I'm sorry to hear of your experience with these tablets, but I'm heartened to hear that you are now stabilised and there is an alternative out there.

My next scheduled appointment with my Consultant is 5 months away and I'm a bit reluctant to go to just a GP about it, as I live oversea's and don't have a regular GP who knows my (very long) medical history.

Thanks for your input ☺☺☺

[Clerkenweller in reply to WardijaWardija]

I’ve had no side effects but one week in is a bit quick to judge. Why have you not used the stay? It works.

[WardijaWardija in reply to Clerkenweller]

Hi. I appreciate that yes, a week is nothing, but from the research I have undertaken - this Nitrate medication is effective for between 10 - 12 hours in our bodies per day and I can't see anything to say that the efficacy of the medication is cumulative over time, but I stand to be corrected . . . ☺

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to WardijaWardija]

Hi WardijaWardija

You can build up a tolerance to Nitrates and it is important to have period in 24 hours of no or low levels of nitrates in your blood system.

Short acting nitrates such as the spray do not linger in your blood stream in the same way so you can use the spray without developing this tolerance.

You can use the spray before you do any physical activity that causes you pain as well as afterwards if you develop chest pain

I suggest you keep a diary of your activity and stressors eg the cold and episodes of chest pain

I suggest you go and see your GP or make contact with your Cardiologist and show them the diary and discuss with them your ongoing symptoms.

If you get new symptoms or chest pain at rest then it's time to go back to A&E

Did you attend a cardiac rehab programme? The Cardiac nurse specialist are a very good source of advice too?

[WardijaWardija in reply to Milkfairy]

No cardiac rehab available here in Malta, unless you've had a HA and/or a bypass. Not available for stent interventions. I've never been aware of cardiac nurses . . . The NHS it is not 😔

I will ring a BHF Nurse adviser tomorrow and try and get word to my hospital consultant.

Thank you ☺

[Clerkenweller in reply to WardijaWardija]

I meant spray by the way. We are all different but your body adjusts over time. I was told to split my dose to twice a day. I was also told that this is one of the drugs where it helps if the timing of when you take them fluctuates slightly. You’re early days. Two other good sources of information about the drugs are a good pharmacist or the excellent nurses on the BHF helpline.

[WardijaWardija in reply to Clerkenweller]

Thanks. Yes, I am going to call them tomorrow ☺