Imdur and frequent urge to urinate

[dfkl]

I was prescribed Imdur about 2 weeks ago and now have a frequent urge to urinate at night, with the feeling that I am not emptying my bladder. The Imdur was prescribed by the Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic at the Hospital as my symptoms had worsened – chest pains even when sitting down, or in bed. I managed to speak to the pharmacist at my surgery who said it was highly unlikely that Imdur was causing urinary problem.

I have been trying to get to talk to a GP at my surgery for 2 days now but keeps getting fobbed off or told what to do through someone else without proper explanation.

Was told today by the nurse that the GP said that I should stop taking Imdur, and that the GTN spray will do and if the symptoms are still the same in a couple of weeks to contact the surgery again - apparently it takes a couple of weeks for Imdur to get out of your system - find this hard to believe only been taking 30mg for 14 days??

What If I stop taking Imdur and my chest pains become worse again? As I have not been able to talk to a GP I am not sure what to do now? Anyone else have this problem with Imdur?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Imdur is an extended release version of Isosorbide Mononitrate. I found it (although on a different brand) an extremely effective anti-anginal. The most common side effects are headache and dizziness that usually disappear in 10 - 14 days. Frequent urination is also a side effect but extremely rare. This problem can also be caused by a UTI and I think your GP should check for this.

Extended release Isosorbide Mononitrate is released over about 10 hours. After release it has a half-life of around 5 hours so I would expect it to be out of your system after 3 - 4 days.

If Isosorbide Mononitrate turns out to be a problem Diltazem, a CCI (calcium channel inhibitor), is also an effective anti-anginal - I have also been on this.

Hopefully your angiogram will come around quickly and show that I your angina is treatable by a stent or two. Mine needed a quadruple bypass but it is nothing as bad as it sounds. Good luck.

[dfkl in reply to MichaelJH]

Thank you very much for the information. The nurse did the UTI check and that was clear. Received a call from the surgery this morning and was told by the receptionist that I have an appointment for a regular consultation with a GP on Monday, 4 January. So not able to diuscuss any of this with a GP until then

[Peajaya]

I too have just started to take Imdur to help stop the pains of PMA. ( Prinze metal angina). I dont think I am going to be much help to you other than to say I am not having any more bathroom visits since I started taking them and that was about 5 days ago. I was going to mention urinary track infection as a possibility but see that someone else has also suggested the same thing. Check it out with your doctor. Good luck - hope your visits have deceased since writing into BHF.