Quick question. Isosorbide Mononitrate.

[Hrty]

After 2 trips to A&E and loads of tests I've been prescribed 60mg daily of Isosorbide Mononitrate to control/prevent angina. Just wondering, from experience, how others have found this and how quickly it began to work. Thankfully the headache appears to be easing, with the occasional paracetamol although still tired, which may be a knock on from hospital stays.

Hopefully should be having a review with cardiologist soon. Many questions for that, particularly why this all started when things were going so well and wqs beginning to feel normal 6 months on from NSTEMI, no stents just medication.

[Crystal614]

Hi Hrty, I take 60mg slow release Isosorbide Mononitrate. It took 1-2 weeks to make a difference. My biggest problem was dreadful headaches that went on for several weeks. I now have a Nitrate patch added and that started the headaches of again, but they are starting to lessen and like you a couple of paracetamol sorts it out.

[Hrty in reply to Crystal614]

Thanks for that. Now on day 5 and the headaches do seem to be easing a bit and, touch wood, I've not suffered much of the dizziness. I have to admit getting this angina has knocked my confidence a bit, everything was going so well until this started.

[Crystal614 in reply to Hrty]

I think Milkfairy has given you some good advice in her previous post. I also keep a diary of any symptoms that I have, triggers etc which has proved very useful. All the best to you.

[bludnut]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with Angina pectoris last October and was eventually given 40mg of IM which I take in the morning and then 8 hours later. As yet I have been fine, no side effects. I was advised to contact my GP if I suffered any side effects, but there haven't been any.

bludnut

[Hrty in reply to bludnut]

Thanks, it's handy discovering how others respond to the meds (although we are all different 🙂)

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

I take 60mgs of Isosorbide mononitrate at 6pm and 11pm.

Along with 20mgs GTN patches at 6pm.

I have been on ISMN for 11 years along with lots of other anti anginal medications.

It is possible to have angina without blocked coronary arteries.

My angina is due to transient constrictions of my coronary arteries, vasospastic angina. I tend to experience my chest pain at rest, in the evenings and at night.

I am lucky I can tolerate nitrates even high doses of IV GTN when I am in hospital.

I suggest you keep a diary of your symptoms to help assess if the medication is helping you.

Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol until you know how the medication effects you.

It can take a week or two before you see a difference.

Hopefully your wait to see your Cardiologist isn't too long.

[Hrty in reply to Milkfairy]

Many thanks for that, very useful.

Diary is a really good idea. I am trying to drink plenty of water and haven't drunk alcohol for 6 months now. Used to love beer (real ale), wine and a single malt but haven't fancied it since my HA.

All this seems to have started with an episode at rehab a couple of weeks ago. Had a dizzy spell and drop in BP during the warm down, I wasn't on Isosorbide at that point, it had been stopped shortly after my HA as I had no chest pain. Suspicion was that I was dehydrated, probably due to not drinking enough and the warm weather. Been very diligent about drinking plenty since.

I don't pretend to understand my discharge notes but the cardiologist did go through things with me duringnky initial review. I have "occlusion of PDA vessel and major diagonal vessel wirh 80% proximal narrowing".

Owing to the location of the problem they decided not to stent but treat medicinally. Was doing really well until this started.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Hrty]

The most challenging part I find is living with uncertainty!

Perhaps write down all the questions you have before you go to see the Cardiologist?

Get them to explain everything to you. If you don't understand anything at first don't feel shy about asking for for the doctor to explain everything again.

Can you take someone with you? A second pair of ears can help.

When I was going through investigations for possible breast cancer. I couldn't take in the information the Consultant was saying to me. My husband did and he was actually the one who reassured me the most. He had heard the information differently.

[Hrty in reply to Milkfairy]

I'll have my wife with me when I go, she was there for my initial review clinic.Been a rough few years as my wife had breast cancer a few years back, thankfully detected very early as a somewhat fortuitous merging of gp practices and them getting everyone in for the scans.

The uncertainty is definitely one of the worst bits.

Thanks again.