Isosorbide mononitrate and Headaches: What Users Say

• nat...
• June 14, 2010

Isosorbide mononitrate for Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis "I was put on this medication along with a very low dose ACE inhibitor that controls my blood pressure. The Imdur ER is being used to alleviate my chest pain and it has done so completely. I have not had one single flare-up at all since starting it! The only downfall is the headache that I have had. I am going to call my cardiologist today to see if I can take anything for that. I still give it a 10 even with the headache because the chest pain was worse than the headache!"

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2019

For Angina "I was prescribed these tablets - isosorbide 40mg Modified-Release tablets to be taken one each morning. 8-10 hours after taking my first tablet, I had to go to bed with a terrible headache starting at the back of my head, into my neck. The pain spread across my shoulders and into my arms. It felt like severe arthritis, and I couldn't get relief, no matter how I tried. I can't remember ever feeling pain like it and got very little sleep that night. Nothing could persuade me to take another one of these tablets. Dreadful medication."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2019

Isosorbide mononitrate for Angina "I was taking 30 mg, and the doc increased the Imdur to 60 mg. Now I have a headache, can’t sleep, feel like everything is moving or spinning, and pain in my neck. My low back feels disconnected when in bed, and all I want to do is vomit. It has been 2 days since the increase."

• nan...
• June 22, 2009

For Esophageal Spasm "This medicine has saved my life after months of having chest pains every day. I became weak and felt like I had nothing to live for. The doctors ruled out my heart and ruled I had esophageal spasms. They had tried other medications that did not work. My gastroenterologist gave me the time-released IMDUR. It has given me my life back in just over a week. I have my energy back, and I am happy to say no chest pain. The only side effect is a headache, but I can handle that with Tylenol. I have my life back. Thank you so much."

• Mwk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2020

For Angina "Taken isosorbide mononitrate 30 mg for 4 days. Had side effect of the most horrendous headache and neck pain and had to be sent home from work as pain was so bad. Lasted for about 8 hours. Not taking it tomorrow and will speak to Dr. Really confused about whether to continue with it. I expected a headache, but this is ridiculous."

• 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."

• Tos...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 22, 2020

For Angina "Been taking extended release for five years. I had a pretty gnarly headache the first few days, was told to expect this, so that made it more tolerable. I have had no side effects of note since then. Seems to help, although I have had angina occasionally while on it. My assumption here is I probably would have more angina without it."

• Bet...
• June 7, 2015

For Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis "I have been on this med for a couple of months and I must say I feel so much better! I have been fortunate in that I never had the headaches as have been reported in the reviews. My doctor just increased the dose to 60 mg which has really helped me with my activity - no more shortness of breath or pain! I have Angina and this med has helped big time! I have my quality of life back!"

• 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...."

• Cav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2013

For Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis "I have had great results with this medicine. I've been taking this for several months. The headaches have all but gone. 'Guess I'm getting used to them'. You need to hang in there with the headaches. The benefits are worth it."

• 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."

• Sue...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2019

For Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis "Jackson. My doctor put me on 30 mg, and I had a killer headache all night, so I wasn't going to take it again but broke the tablet in half and took it. I still had a small headache. I suggest slowly increasing isosorbide until your body adjusts to it and then continue increasing until you reach the desired dose the doctor wants you on. I told my cardiologist, and he said that was okay... just a suggestion - you probably should check with your doctor and see what they think."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2018

For Angina "I’ve got Prinzmetal angina, and my doctor put me on this medication after a particularly bad attack. I am already taking amlodipine and GTN when required. The headache and neck ache from this medication has been severe. I can do nothing else but lay flat in a darkened room. No painkiller relieves it. If you are unlucky enough to get these side effects, they are horrendous. I persisted with it for a week, but it was disabling."

• Tra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2020

For Angina "I was prescribed this medicine for high blood pressure and Raynaud's. The first day I developed a headache. I took two aspirins, which helped somewhat. I had to immediately lay down and rest. I thought the symptoms would get better, so I took the meds the following day. The headache got worse, followed by neck pain. I also felt nausea, chills, and became fatigued. I vomited and felt sick to my stomach. I’m usually a tough person and have a high tolerance, but this medicine made me feel awful! I was literally on bed rest the entire day and didn’t have an appetite. Smells would make me nauseous! I would never, ever take this medicine again or recommend it to anyone!"

• 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."

• The...
• September 25, 2017

For Angina "I have been taking isosorbide mononitrate 30 mg tablets for a little over 2 months now. For the first 4 to 5 days, I did experience headaches, however, they did subside. I have now started to experience a headache every now and again, though. I have also started to have the same chest pain again, which had completely gone away until now. My biggest complaint and concern is that I find myself EXTREMELY tired every single day for the past 2 weeks! It does not matter if I sleep 8 or more hours, I still wake up feeling like I have had no sleep at all! I can sit down on my couch or at the kitchen table and fall asleep sitting straight up and have slept that way for hours! I don't understand this, but other than that, I'm okay with the medicine."

• 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."

• Tah...
• September 13, 2017

For Angina "The headaches caused by this medication are worse than the condition it is supposed to treat. The pain goes on for at least 24 hours. It is debilitating and cannot be treated with Tylenol or cool compresses. Avoid this med at all costs!"

• 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."

• Yik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2020

For Angina "Isosorbide mononitrate 10 mg twice a day was prescribed by the hospital doctor for possible angina, and I have never felt so ill! Taken for 2 days, but never again! It did stop my brief chest pains, but I've had the worst ever headache for the whole time, even waking me up in the night, and which painkillers won't touch. Also hurts down my neck and side of my face and makes me feel sick. Just horrendous. Phoned GP, who is changing them for beta blockers as fewer side effects."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2017

For Angina "I've been on it for 8 days. The dosage is 30 mg. I'm having a stiff neck and the most terrible headache. It is for angina. It is helping the chest pain. They say after a few weeks, headaches will subside. I sure hope so."

• Rud...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 16, 2018

For Angina "My blood pressure started going up about two years after bypass surgery, and they started me on 30 mg, and my blood pressure has gone down and stabilized. My chest pain has gone away. No headache, and the only thing is my sleep is not as good."

• Pet...
• March 28, 2017

For Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis "My GP suspected (and after pressure wire angiogram) I was diagnosed with variant (Prinzmetal) angina. I have been taking isosorbide mononitrate 30 mg successfully for a year. The headaches were awful at first, but by 'titrating' the (strictly once a day) dose (that is, gradually increasing it to the prescribed strength over a period of a couple of months), the side effects were minimized. My GP was helpful in this regard by selecting tablets that could be halved, quartered, and of lower strength than the target dose, while working up to the full dose. The frequency episodes of chest pain have reduced from almost daily to about 1 day in 10, and the intensity of pain reduced from excruciating to quite mild."

• 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."

• Don...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 15, 2020

For Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis "I've been taking isosorbide 30 mg ER, dose 3 times a day for years to help angina. I also have a pacemaker. No headaches, and I feel better than I did before this medicine was prescribed by my cardiologist."