Patient/caregiver was educated on how to take isosorbide mononitrate as follows:
- Take the medication at the same time every day, to avoid forgetting the medication.
- Maintain strict compliance with intake of the medication as ordered, with regards to dosage and frequency, to derive the benefit of the medication.
- Do not change the dose on isosorbide mononitrate without consulting your doctor.
- Isosorbide mononitrate could be taken on empty stomach. Taking isosorbide mononitrate with a small snack can help avoid having unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms with the medication, such as, nausea and vomiting, if any.
- Isosorbide mononitrate can be prescribed as an immediate-release or an extended-release. Immediate-release isosorbide mononitrate acts quicker, for a short duration, and so, could be prescribed for more than once a day. Extended-release isosorbide mononitrate acts slower, for prolonged period of time, and so, could be prescribed once a day. Do not chew or crush the extended-release isosorbide mononitrate, as it can result in rapid absorption and quicker action of the drug, thus compromising the therapeutic benefit of the medication.
- Take a blood pressure reading always before you take the pill. Maintain a log of every day blood pressure readings.
- If the blood pressure is too low, you can defer taking the medication for that dose. Notify your doctor on the same. Notify your doctor, if more of such occurrences are happening, so that, your medication dose could be revised.
- Also, notify your doctor, if your blood pressure continues to be high or if your heart rate is being consistently high or if signs and symptoms of chest pain do not improve or get any worse further.
- If a dose is missed, it should be taken at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, the missed dose can be skipped. Compensating for the missed dose by taking an extra dose can pose serious risk for an episode of extremely low blood pressure and very high heart rate.
