Isosorbide Mononitrate

[hearty1]

I take 10 mg Isosorbide Mononitrate twice a day as well as other heart meds. I take one at breakfast time and the other at dinnertime. Someone mentioned to me yesterday that I should take them nearer together so I can have a longer gap between them. If not my body would get used to them and they won't work so well. So when is the best time to take them please? Thank you for your help with this.

[anke123]

Hi, I take 40 mg twice a day and was told the same. I read in a bhf booklet that it is best to take it 6 or 7 hours apart and that is what I do now. I would be interested to know what others do as well. All the best.

[hearty1 in reply to anke123]

Hi anke123 thank you for your reply. Right 6 to 7 hours apart. I'll need to change the time I take the second dose. Best wishes.

[Keep-it-ticking]

I would recommend having a chat with your pharmacist at the local chemist as they’re really good for advice on meds, I have regular consultations with mine.

[hearty1 in reply to Keep-it-ticking]

Thank you keep- it - ticking, good idea I'll do that. Have a good day.

[dunestar]

i take 30mg extended release once a day at breakfast.

[hearty1 in reply to dunestar]

Hi dunestar thank you for your reply. That sounds good extended release. My tabs aren't so take them twice a day. Have a good day.

[Alison_L]

Hi hearty1. My dose is one 25mg prolonged release tablet once a day, so I take it in the morning with the majority of my drugs cocktail

[hearty1 in reply to Alison_L]

Hi Alison_ L thank you for your reply. Right you take it once a day. I take one twice a day. Yes like you with a cocktail of other meds in the morning. Best wishes.

[Benzman]

I take 30mg twice a day and the label says they should be 6 hours apart which, on the whole is what I do.

[hearty1 in reply to Benzman]

Hi Benzman, thank you for replying. So the label on yours says should be 6 hours apart. Mine only says take one twice a day so I was taking one at breakfast about 7am then one at dinner which could be about 7pm so double the gap you have between yours. Best wishes.

[anke123 in reply to hearty1]

I just to have a slow release one at first but it gave me dreadful headaches, so bad I did not want to do anything, so it got changed to twice a day. I have had the dose doubled since then.

[hearty1 in reply to anke123]

Thank you for your reply. Oh right the slow release one gave you headaches. I better keep to the two per day like you. Keep well.

[BillyMct]

I would advise sticking to the the 6hr window between 1st and 2nd daily dose . I was informed by a cardio consultant that this time window is important and if the 2nd dose is taken later there is a risk your body can become "immune" to the isosorbide , ie it no longer provides the desired effect.

[hearty1 in reply to BillyMct]

Thank you for your reply. I was wondering why I hadn't been told to do that as it just says on the instruction label on the packet from the GP take one twice a day. Best wishes.

[Manhattan1]

i take 120mg... 2x60 isorobide.. pharmacy told me to take both together in the morning

[hearty1 in reply to Manhattan1]

Hi Manhstten1 thank you for replying, so you can take the two at the same time. Hope they are helping. Keep safe.

[Bassman65]

I take 120mg (2x60) mononax xl in the morning

[hearty1]

Thank you for your reply so you take them in the morning. I take mine twice a day. Keep well.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi hearty1

I take 60mgs isosorbide mononitrate extended release tablets at 6pm and then 30mgs at 11pm .

I also use GTN patches.

I have most of my angina in the evenings and at night

I was told very clearly that you need a period of time without nitrates as your body gets used to them and over time they become less effective.

[hearty1 in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi Milkfairy, thank you for your reply. That could be an idea for me. Rather than take them at breakfast and dinnertime like I do now. That would give a better gap. Keep well.

[HectorsDad]

I take 20mg slow release capsules in my morning ‘cocktail.’ I started on 10mg normal tabs, at 8 and 3, which was the advice given as mentioned by others, but had ups and downs through the day so switched to slow release which is much better (for me).

Pharmacy couldn’t get the caps for a while and gave me slow release tabs which were ‘the same’, but I had huge amount of pain- they just didn’t work. GP said this was ‘not unusual’ and found me a chemist with caps in stock- all back to normal now.

[hearty1 in reply to HectorsDad]

Thank you for your reply HectorsDad. Right you take them at 8 & 3. I haven't been told to do that. It only says on the pack 1 twice a day. But as people are saying there needs to be a longer gap until the next day. Best wishes.

[HectorsDad in reply to hearty1]

Yes, but that was before I switched to the slow release which are once per day.

The logic explained to me was... the standard tablets last around 8 hours, although they tail off a bit after 6. The body must be clear of them for at least 8 hours in every 24 as it quickly adjusts and they will have no effect. 3pm does is after 7 hours, the overlap covers the tail off of the first tablet, and that tab is gone by 11 giving 9 hours free from the drug, mostly while asleep.

In me, they were only lasting around 4 hours, and I had a big ‘bump’ after taking them, and again when leaving the system. Not so helpful, but the slow release capsules work well- for me at least!

[hearty1 in reply to HectorsDad]

Ok HectorsDad sounds good. This wasn't explained to me by the consultant although I was being prescribed other meds for heart failure at the same time. This morning I had it about 8 so next one should be in the afternoon not at dinnertime as I've been doing. Many thanks. Have a good day.

[HectorsDad in reply to hearty1]

Well, I’m not medically trained. This is just what I was told by GP and Pharmacist ( at great length, tbh😅). To get the best info, I would ring your pharmacist or the BHF help line.

[hearty1 in reply to HectorsDad]

Yes I think I will as I take a cocktail of meds. Thank you. Keep safe and well.

[HectorsDad in reply to hearty1]

Safe, well and laughing, that’s the only way😁

[hearty1 in reply to HectorsDad]

Yes ha ha 😁

[TheBearB55]

I was initially prescribed 25mg (slow-release) daily which I still take, along with my other meds first thing in the morning

However, when I walk fast, I still get chest pain and need to use my GTN spray.

So the specialist suggested upping the daily dose to 50mg. I still get 25mg tablets but my prescription is for 2 per day both of which I take IF I'm going to go walking.

So on most days it's 25mg (1 tab) on walking days it's 50mg (2 tabs). So far, so good.

[hearty1 in reply to TheBearB55]

Thank you for your reply TheBearB55. That's good you only need to take two if you're going to go walking. I take two every day. Like you so far so good. Have a lovely day.