Just out of interest, what stronger painkillers might be an option?
I contacted the cardiologist and he said there wasn’t anything stronger (i.e. prescription medication) that would be effective against nitrate headaches.
He then tried to pressure me into switching to nicorandil, for which I have several major contraindications, which made me feel very unsettled.
Luckily I seem to have turned the corner with the headaches, so it’s all moot now.
I can only comment on what I was given for my arthritis etc problem. It would not be the same necessarily for a different cause and my doctor took an additional degree in pain management. What I’m now on do have several contraindications too but my quality of life is much improved.
You can get slow release isosorbide mononitrate which doesn't cause headaches. My husband used to get severe headaches on this medication but he was fine on the slow release ones. The headaches are a known issue, have a word with your Dr and ask to change to the slow release ones. Good luck
Hmm, it says “modified release” on the packet. I will check with the pharmacist tomorrow. I am in Australia so we might have slightly different formulations here.
I’m glad your husband did well on the slow-release ones.
I was prescribed isosorbide mononitrate extended release tablets many years ago.
It took about 2 weeks for the 'nitrate head' to subside.
I found drinking lots of water and taking paracetamol helped.
For me it was worth going through the headache as isosorbide mononitrate is an important medication that helps manage my angina.
Perhaps ask you Cardiologist is there an alternative medication that you can be offered to help manage your health condition ?
Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs NSAIDs can interact with other medications so checking with a Pharmacist whether NSAIDs are suitable for you is a good idea.
I have made it through one week and want to keep going to see whether the headaches subside. The house is a mess but I feel the medication is working otherwise.
My pharmacist has been very kind, and I am okay to take NSAIDS short term (also confirmed with GP).
Hi, I am on the same tablet slow release I had really bad headaches at first lasted two weeks but fine after that. I took paracetamol every four hours which helped. The headaches are a common side effect at first. Hope yours go soon .
Thank you. I feel like a bit of a baby for complaining. I’ve had worse headaches before, it’s just that it’s coming on top of other health problems,
I will keep up the aspirin. Odds are the headaches will subside. If not I will regroup and see what other options there are.
A family member came round and did the dishes and a load of laundry for me today so that was very helpful. I am not able to do much anyway and was worried what state my house might be in after two weeks of no housework!
I have been on this for about 4 weeks now and the first three weeks the headaches and dizziness was unbearable, this has subsided over the last week, I was told to take paracetamol which I did and it did take the edge off it
If this is not getting any better please contact your cardiologist and let them know they may be able to prescribe something else
hiya, I was put on isorbide monitrate back in December and I couldn’t tolerate it due to headaches and started to retain fluid. I stopped it and the heart failure specialist swapped it to a drug called nicorandil which gave me headaches at first but now I am fine with it. It does the same job as isorbide monitrate. Maybe speak to the specialist s for advice. Hope this helps
Thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately it seems I can’t take nicorandil for other reasons (have to double check with gastroenterologist and bowel surgeon). So much admin!
I’m glad you were able to switch to it and that didn’t cause headaches for you.
I will persevere a bit longer with the isosorbide and see what happens. At least I don’t have to work or do anything responsible at the moment. Just feeling a bit miserable and sorry for myself, I think.
Hiya, I am pleased that you found my suggestion helpful. I am sorry you are unable to take Nicorandil which is a shame. If it is any consolation I am currently under a gastroenterologist and dietician as I also suffer with inflammatory bowel disease and IBS. I also have heart failure and cardiac disease so working out the best medication combination has been a bit of a nightmare really. I hopefully now have the best combination to keep me reasonably stable. Hope that your body manages to adjust to the medication.
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