Isosorbide mononitrate and Dizziness: What Users Say

• mar...
• July 4, 2011

For Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis "My doctor prescribed this medicine due to ongoing chest pain. I have now been taking it for 1 week and have a headache every day. Nothing seems to help stop them. I have taken aspirin, Tylenol, and even acetaminophen with codeine for relief and so far none have worked. The headache is constant throughout the day and is throbbing, and causes dizziness. The good side is the chest pain has gone away. I'm considering stopping this medicine as the headaches are pretty bad."

• Hud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2019

For Angina "I was prescribed this drug, isosorbide mononitrate, after going to the hospital with angina. I was sick of using GTN spray, as it gave me sore throats and headaches. I only took these tablets, 3x30 mg doses over 3 days, and had to have a week off work. The side effects were dizziness, couldn't open my eyes or see properly, wasn't sure what I was doing, tired all the time - worst thing I've ever taken. Back to the spray and aspirin now. I'd rather have a few minutes of angina than all the side effects of Carmil (UK brand of isosorbide). Never again. Just hope my appointment to have a stent fitted arrives soon. Been waiting since March...."

• sav...
• January 24, 2015

For Heart Failure "I was exhausted and constantly gasping for breath. My cardiologist put me on isosorbide mononitrate, one pill a day. The difference was astounding. I no longer was gasping for breath and no longer had to take naps. The pill would wear off during the night, so the doctor recently changed me to two a day. I am experiencing some pretty severe headaches and dizziness when I get up too fast. The doctor had told me I would experience headaches, but they would go away eventually."

• Bab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2019

For Angina "Started on isosorbide mononitrate 30 mg yesterday. Have had angina, SOB (shortness of breath), right hand and arm icy cold, since quad bypass in 2017. Immediately after taking the first dose felt 'yukky', had the headache, dizzy, very tired, took an ibuprofen and sat in a recliner for about 2 hours, then felt much better and was able to walk in my yard with no chest pain (first since surgery)! My right hand is warm! This morning took the med then went back to bed for an hour. Slight headache right now. Will take ibuprofen again. Still no chest pain or SOB. Right hand was cold, but is now warm again! I pray this continues."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2018

For Angina "My daughter was put on this for her resistant high blood pressure. It does the job of lowering her pressure very well, but it makes her heart beat erratically and makes her feel terrible all of the time. Severe headaches, a weak, heavy feeling, nausea, dizziness, and breathlessness. It is really a tough drug to take. We had to stop the extended release and go with the normal one that only lasts a few hours just to give her some relief. Once she gets more used to it, we might go back to ext. release. But in the meantime, it's completely debilitating."

• NCD...
• February 19, 2017

Isosorbide mononitrate for Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis "Took half dose, 15 mg, and spent two days feeling terrible. It caused chest and back pain, shortness of breath, confusion, dizziness, anxiety, and a general really sick feeling. It did relieve angina, but it was not worth the side effects. Really bad medicine."

• Phy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2014

For Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis "I have been on the medication about a month now. Fortunately, I have not had any headaches, and the chest pain is gone for the most part. The side effects I have had are dizziness, sweats, and feeling faint. So far, the good is outweighing the bad."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 1, 2025

"I have been on isosorbide for a while, but want to stop it. But every time I miss a pill, I get a terrible headache, flushing, dizziness, and nausea. So I read I can't stop taking it suddenly, I have to cut the dosage. Overall, it affects something in your head, as well as your heart. It has nitrate in it."

• bas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2020

For Angina "The first day I tried this drug, I became very dizzy and had difficulty walking. After three days, I tried my first driving, and it was frightening, to say the least. I have asked my doctor if I can stop taking it because I cannot live with this drug. In addition, I asked if this improves with usage or remains this way. It might be interacting with one of my other prescriptions, I just don't know."

• Lot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2018

For Heart Failure "I recently had 2 stents placed in my heart. I was put on 60 mg ER Indur. I have been on it for 30 days. The headaches are horrendous, body aches, back pain, dizziness, extreme exhaustion, mental confusion. I feel like my brain is in a constant state of confusion. The headaches are still bad 30 days later. When I stopped taking the medication, all the symptoms eventually left, including my chest pains. I might have had better results if they had started me on a lower dose. I do not want to take this medication anymore."

• bha...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 18, 2018

"I am told that I had IHD (ischemic heart disease) in the year 1977. I have never experienced angina or dyspnea or sweating, never in my life. After 20 years, when I had some burning sensation in my hands, my doctor prescribed Ismo 10 mg twice a day. Believe it or not, I have been taking this medicine for the last 22 years until my new cardiologist asked me to stop since I have been experiencing vertigo for the last 6 years. He said that nitrates may cause vertigo. Believe me, when I stopped the drug, from the first day itself, my vertigo and dizziness have gone."

• bha...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 18, 2018

"I am told that I had IHD (ischemic heart disease) in the year 1977. I have never experienced angina or dyspnea or sweating, never in my life. After 20 years, when I had some burning sensation in my hands, my doctor prescribed Ismo 10 mg twice a day. Believe it or not, I have been taking this medicine for the last 22 years until my new cardiologist asked me to stop since I have been experiencing vertigo for the last 6 years. He said that nitrates may cause vertigo. Believe me, when I stopped the drug, from the first day itself, my vertigo and dizziness have gone."

• Bos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 5, 2021

For Angina "My husband was given isosorbide 2 years ago as he got so very anxious, etc. The hospital thought that this would stop him from having an angina attack, which it has, but the side effects are awful. He suffers from headaches, does not eat like he used to, and he loved his hot cooked home food, so that has gone, and will just eat a bowl of cereal for supper. We have a sandwich and a piece of cake at lunchtime, breakfast, and that is all. The other side effects include headache, feeling dizzy, not sleeping any longer than 2 hours each night, also complains of having a hot head, but not every day. He just sits and doesn't feel like doing anything, and I can understand if he is feeling like this. Also, his eyes run in the morning, but I think this is because he does not have enough sleep. I would desperately like him to come off these awful tablets, as his tests show that his heart, thank God, is alright, and his blood pressure now is where it should be. He also takes 1 aspirin each morning. Please help."

• Ken...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2022

For Angina "I was prescribed this medicine - isosorbide 30 mg. First, I thought something was wrong with me. After a couple of days, I started having headaches, dizziness, nasal pain, and pain spread across my arm, shoulder, and back. Trying to walk around the house, I cannot balance well, afraid of falling down. I need to stay in bed. I felt fatigued. I found out this was a side effect of the isosorbide medicine. What kind of medicine tries to accomplish more harm than help? Dreadful medication."

• Doc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2018

For Angina "I have been on this drug for 6 months. 30 mg. I have not experienced any side effects. Recently increased the amount to 60 mg, and the first few days I was very dizzy and felt weak. I am confident I will get used to the higher dosage."

• 3...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2022

For Angina "After leaving the hospital, I was prescribed isosorbide mononitrate. I took 1, and the headache was so severe I couldn't sleep, and it lasted 8 hours. Had to take aspirin to get it manageable. Waited a day to understand what just happened. On the third day (today), I cut the pill in half and tried again. At 10 am, I took it, and by 12:30, I started getting dizzy, and the headache returned like a three-penny nail. It is now 6 pm, and it is now manageable. Seriously, I DON'T think I can deal with this."

• Rap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2023

"I took this after a heart stent. I experienced swelling in my legs, and dry, itchy skin, hot, tingly skin, swelling in my face and throat, migraines, dizziness, nausea, dilated veins so much they appeared purple. Dosage 30 mg. Supposed to take it in the morning, but it made me so sick I took it at night."

• Ben...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 11, 2022

For Angina "I’ve been taking the medicine since 2019 after a heart attack for angina. 30 mg once a day. Unfortunately, if I stop it, there is a withdrawal, and the pain comes back. So I need to keep on taking it. Headache and dizziness are bad."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2015

For Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis "Headaches, dizzy, nausea."