Isosorbide mononitrate and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Ccs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2019

"I had double bypass, and I take 4 pills for high blood pressure. My blood pressure was running high, 170/105, so I was prescribed isosorbide 60 mg extended release. Now my blood pressure is 117/68. 4 pills, I love it. Finally, my blood pressure is managed. I do get the headache, but I take 2 Tylenol, and it’s gone. I am going to experiment with not taking olmesartan, if my pressure is still awesome, I’ll stop it. Then I’ll try not taking the hydralazine slowly. Then I will be at 2 pills of isosorbide and metoprolol."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2017

For Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis "Within a few hours of taking, I have never felt so bad in my life. Headache, sickness, and diarrhea. In bed for 2 days. Now on my 5th day, mild headache, no chest pain, and all-around feel better than I have for a long time."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2017

For Angina "I started this drug on 09/27/2017, Chermydur 60 mg XL tablets, isosorbide mononitrate. I have read some reviews, and I can clearly say most of them sound the same. I took my first tablet before I went to bed and woke up in the morning feeling like I had been hit over the head with a brick. My eyes were hurting, stiff neck, and a severe headache. I am not sure if I am going to carry on taking this medication or give it a chance because I just hate having angina."

• JAM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2020

For Angina "Prescribed isosorbide mononitrate for possible angina, it gave me side effects of the worst headache and neck pain that I have ever had. Put me down for two days. Not sure I want to continue this medicine."

• got...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2016

For Angina "My brother was put on this medication on Wednesday; yesterday (Saturday) he was taken to the ER with side effects from this. He felt like his chest was caving in, severe headache, couldn't get warm enough. His blood pressure went severely low, and his heart rate went high. He is still in the hospital today for observation. Would not recommend this drug to anyone."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2017

For Angina "Was prescribed this after a heart attack and had a stent in. Have been taking just 30 mg of Carmel XL, and today will be my last day. Pounding headache, nothing can help. Can only lie down, every tiny movement hurts. Can't see properly. Not having angina attacks since surgery, so don't see the point of this medicine, surely a spray when needed is better? Would not recommend, but feel I have been misprescribed by the hospital."

• 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."

• New...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2017

For Angina "I am only 39 and had my first heart attack on Jan 5th, 2017, caused by a 100% blockage and an 80% blockage. I go back on Jan 31st for another stent, and today, 1/28/17, is my first day taking the 30 mg isosorb mononitrate ER, and it's horrible so far. Bad headache all day, sick to my stomach, and heart palpitations all day. Really feeling like I should go to the ER. Do not recommend this medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2022

For Angina "This medication was prescribed to help increase blood flow through a blocked artery (85-90% of the circumflex), although I'm fairly functional. I am also on Metoprolol for blood pressure and a recently prescribed statin, along with baby aspirin. I took 1/2 of my 30 mg pill yesterday and got an annoying headache. Today I took the full pill first thing in the morning and now have a really bad headache bordering on the feel of a migraine, minus the nausea-though I do feel a little queasy. I feel so bad that I am considering discontinuing it-though thanks to some of the reviews here, I will try to take it for a week before making that decision in case I can become accustomed to it. I have stable angina, so at this point, the horrible side effects are not worth it for the supposed benefit. I'd rather get winded and take it slower than be in the state I'm in."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 29, 2024

For Angina "I have unstable angina and always felt very much at risk and vulnerable. Started taking isosorbide mononitrate and the first four days had terrible headaches. I knew this was possible and persevered. The headaches reduced in severity and within 10 days had stopped. No more severe chest pain. I have had a few mild episodes of chest pain, but not enough to use my GTN spray. I feel so much better and secure. Glad I persevered with them."

• Bre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2021

For Angina "Was prescribed the ER tablet. Took it for three months, no problems. Then the excruciating headaches began, which were relieved by nothing... 24 hours a day. All I could do was stay in bed. When the pill was in effect for about only 8 hours a day, before the onset of headaches, I felt great, but when it wore off, I couldn't do anything. Everything caused chest pain. After the fourth month, the headaches were still excruciating, so I stopped taking it. Have had only one episode of angina since then, which seems to be brought on by stress. I just find I have to be careful not to overdo physically, and I do fine. This med has so many side effects you can't even count them all. I wondered if it was causing some strange adverse effect in my brain because the headaches didn't start until I had been on it about 3 months. Asked my cardiologist about this and why the delayed headache. His answer, 'I don't know.' Big help that was."

• 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."

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2025

Isosorbide mononitrate for Angina "Was put on Imdur (1/2 30 mg tab) after heart catheterization. Worst 6 days of my life. I tried to wait out the week for my system to acclimate to the meds, but I couldn't do it. I would take the meds at 6 a.m. and by 8 a.m. I would have the worst headache. Nothing helped. I tried everything: Tylenol, heat packs, cold packs, even my migraine cocktail. By day 6, it was so bad I had to go to the ER for a shot of Toradol. I was completely down for 6 days. Doctor finally discontinued Imdur and is trying something else. This may work for some, but not for me."

• Wen...
• June 30, 2018

For Esophageal Spasm "I have no pain, but at a swallow test, was diagnosed with esophageal spasms along with a small hiatal hernia. I am having a lump-like feeling in my throat when I make saliva, but not when I eat or drink. I was prescribed half of a 30 mg tablet daily. I have taken it twice and got a headache, but not a really bad one. I’m wondering if I even need to take it."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2024

For Heart Failure "Terrible, terrible headaches. I took the medicine at 4am, and it’s now 7:45am. I’m contemplating calling off from work because I’m not sure I can function. My cardiologist prescribed 120 mg. So last night I had one, and my heart rate was beating so fast. I toss all night long. Heartburn, and I felt acid reflux. The headaches are just terrible. My chest pain is gone, but the headache is still present. I’ve been without this medicine for a month, and I wonder if that’s the reason for the reaction I’m having."

• 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."

• Caz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2022

For Angina "I've been 3 years on 60 mgs now, and the last few months started to feel very ill. I have frozen shoulder, and after 3 months of acupuncture and chiropractor, it's not getting better. Along with headaches, back ache, and a general constant feeling of life being drained out of me. This situation is making me very depressed and feeling hopeless. I did try to cut the pills in half for a week and became so ill and unable to stand I have had to go back on them. I will now try to wean off them in smaller doses as I cannot keep existing like this. The cardiologist had said no way in stopping taking them, he was adamant. Then when I said I'd had frozen shoulder for the last few months, he was 'oh, you got frozen shoulder, ok, stop taking them.' It was ONLY THEN that I looked at side effects, and frozen shoulder is or can be one of them... It's been SO debilitating, I'm at my wits' end to think this could largely be because of medication... leaves me totally frustrated."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2022

For Angina "Was on a 30 mg tablet with no side effects, now on 60 mg and get the most horrendous headaches. Paracetamol, ibuprofen, or any other pain reliever is useless as they don't work. Would have thought that in this day and age they could produce something that has no side effects."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2022

For Heart Failure "This was for the isosorbide dinitrate 20 mg tablets. This was the worst pain I ever experienced on this medication. The headaches were so unbearable and debilitating that I had to go to the emergency room. They were so severe my vision became blurry, I had 3 CT scans and an MRI done just to make sure I had intracranial bleeding. They stopped that medication along with hydralazine to bring me back to normal."

• Rt7...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 7, 2023

For Heart Failure "This medication causes me to have pressure and tightness in my head, tightness in my ear, and inflammation. I take it along with hydralazine, and it does not lower my blood pressure enough. A higher dosage increases the bad symptoms."

• Caz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2022

For Angina "I've been 3 years on 60 mg now and the last few months started to feel very ill. I have frozen shoulder, and after 3 months of acupuncture and chiropractor, it's not getting better. Along with headaches and backache, and a general constant feeling of life being drained out of me. This situation is making me very depressed and feeling hopeless. I did try to cut the pills in half for a week and became so ill and unable to stand I have had to go back on them. I will now try to wean off them in smaller doses as I cannot keep existing like this. The cardiologist had said no way in stopping taking them, he was adamant, then when I said I'd had frozen shoulder for the last few months he was 'oh, you got frozen shoulder, okay stop taking them.' It was ONLY THEN that I looked at side effects and frozen shoulder is or can be one of them... It's been so debilitating. I'm at my wit's end to think this could largely be because of medication... leaves me totally frustrated."

• Buz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2022

For Angina "I've been using the 30 mg ER version for about a week. My symptoms were pain in the shoulder and chest when hiking. The first few days had significant headaches (at least for me, who never gets them) that neither Tylenol nor aspirin could alleviate. Also felt tired and weak. Must say a turnaround from the symptoms occurred on the 5th day, which was yesterday. Tiny, briefly felt headache dissipated with Tylenol. The cool thing is that since 2-3 days ago, no longer any left shoulder (which sometimes radiated to the chest) pain occurs when hiking up a fairly steep incline or two, nor the heavy, labored breathing (though there will always be some of that-I mean I'm 74 and realistic). I hope this will be enduring."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2024

"I do get a slight headache every morning, nothing dramatic, and it does lower my blood pressure, but I have severe joint pain throughout my body. I am only taking 10 mg once a day and I will have to go to 5 mg to see if that will help or eliminate them."