What is isosorbide dinitrate?
Isosorbide dinitrate is in a group of drugs called nitrates. Isosorbide dinitrate dilates
(widens) blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow through them and easier for the heart
to pump.
Isosorbide dinitrate is used to treat or prevent attacks of chest pain (angina).
Isosorbide dinitrate may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this
medication guide.
What does isosorbide dinitrate look like?

Isosorbide Dinitrate 20 mg-WES

Isosorbide Dinitrate 5 mg SL-WES

Isosorbide Dinitrate 5 mg-WES

Isosorbide Dinitrate 2.5 mg SL-WES

Isosorbide Dinitrate 40 mg ER-INW

Isosorbide Dinitrate 5 mg-GG

Isosorbide Dinitrate 20 mg-PAR

Isosorbide Dinitrate 10 mg-MAJ
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking isosorbide dinitrate?
Do not use isosorbide dinitrate if you are taking sildenafil (Viagra)
. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take isosorbide dinitrate while
you are using sildenafil.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide
mononitrate (Imdur), or nitroglycerin.
Before taking this isosorbide dinitrate, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or
if you have:
-
early signs of a heart attack (chest pain or heavy feeling, pain
spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling);
-
congestive heart failure;
-
severe anemia (a lack of red blood cells); or
-
low blood pressure; or
-
kidney disease.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use
isosorbide dinitrate, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether isosorbide dinitrate passes into breast milk or if it could harm
a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a
baby.
Isosorbide dinitrate can cause severe headaches, especially when you first start using it.
These headaches may gradually become less severe as you continue to use isosorbide dinitrate.
Do not stop taking the medication. Ask your doctor before using any headache pain medication.
How should I take isosorbide dinitrate?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in
larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label.
If possible, try to rest or stay seated when you use this medication. Isosorbide dinitrate can
cause dizziness or fainting.
If you use isosorbide dinitrate to treat an angina attack: Use the medicine at the first sign
of chest pain. Place the
sublingual tablet
under your tongue and allow it to
dissolve slowly. Do not chew or swallow it. The
chewable tablet
should be
chewed and then held in the mouth for about 2 minutes before swallowing.
You may use additional tablets every 5 minutes, but not more than 3 tablets in 15 minutes.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open an
extended-release
tablet or
capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body.
Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
Seek emergency medical attention if your chest pain gets worse or lasts more than 5
minutes, especially if you have trouble breathing or feel weak, dizzy, or nauseated, or
lightheaded.
It is important to keep this medicine on hand at all times in case of an angina attack. Get
your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
If you take isosorbide dinitrate on a regular schedule to prevent angina, do not stop
taking it suddenly or you could have a severe attack of angina.
Do not change brands of isosorbide dinitrate without the approval of your doctor.
Store isosorbide dinitrate at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.
Keep the medicine in its original container.
Throw away any leftover isosorbide dinitrate on the expiration date. Expired isosorbide
will not treat your condition.
What happens if I miss a dose of isosorbide dinitrate?
Since isosorbide dinitrate is often used only as needed, you may not be on a dosing
schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, use the missed dose as soon as you
remember. If your next dose is less than 2 hours away, skip the missed dose and use the
medicine at your next regularly scheduled time.
If you are using the
extended-release
tablet and your next dose is less
than 6 hours away, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled
time.
Do not
use extra medicine to make up a missed dose.
Where can I get more information about isosorbide dinitrate?
Your pharmacist has information about isosorbide dinitrate written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of isosorbide dinitrate?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heart rate;
-
blurred vision or dry mouth; or
-
nausea, vomiting, sweating, pale skin, feeling like you might
pass out.
Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about isosorbide dinitrate?
Do not use isosorbide dinitrate if you are taking sildenafil (Viagra)
. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take isosorbide dinitrate while
you are using sildenafil.
Isosorbide dinitrate can cause severe headaches, especially when you first start using it.
These headaches may gradually become less severe as you continue to use the medication. Do
not stop taking isosorbide dinitrate. Ask your doctor before using any headache pain medication.
What should I avoid while taking isosorbide dinitrate?
Isosorbide dinitrate can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions.
Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of isosorbide
dinitrate, such as dizziness, drowsiness, feeling light-headed, or fainting.
What other drugs will affect isosorbide dinitrate?
Before taking isosorbide dinitrate, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following
drugs:
-
blood pressure medication;
-
dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal) or ergotamine
(Ergomar, Cafergot, and others);
-
an erectile dysfunction medication such as tadalafil (Cialis)
or vardenafil (Levitra);
-
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol
(Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol
(Betapace), and others; or
-
a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Tiazac,
Cardizem), nifedipine (Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan),
and others.
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use
isosorbide dinitrate, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect isosorbide dinitrate. Tell your doctor
about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins,
minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new
medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of isosorbide dinitrate?