Healthy Matters
Resources
  • Healthy Matters
    Drugs A-Z
    Pharmacist Tips | Dosages | Side effects
  • Healthy Matters
    Food & Nutrition
    Nutritionist Tips | Facts | Precautions
  • Healthy Matters
    Chinese Medicine Herbs
    Practitioner Tips | Dosages | Side effects
  • Healthy Matters
    Chinese Medicine Prescriptions
  • Healthy Matters
    Expert Advisory Board
Articles
  • Healthy Matters
    Specialists Guide
  • Healthy Matters
    Other Services Guide
  • Healthy Matters
    Vaccination
  • Healthy Matters
    Parenting Guides
Health Topics
  • Healthy Matters
    Allergy & Immunology
  • Healthy Matters
    Baby & Child's Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Beauty
  • Healthy Matters
    Bone & Muscle Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Cancer & Tumor
  • Healthy Matters
    Common Illnesses
  • Healthy Matters
    Digestive Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Eye Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Fitness
  • Healthy Matters
    Food & Nutrition
  • Healthy Matters
    Heart & Vascular Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Infectious Diseases
  • Healthy Matters
    Medical Tests
  • Healthy Matters
    Mental Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Pregnancy
  • Healthy Matters
    Respiratory Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Sexual Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Skin Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Urological Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Women's Health
Healthy Offers
Health Check
  • Basic Health Screening for $1600 (Original: $3,120)
    Trinity Medical Centre
  • Premier Health Screening (Female) for $4,500 (Original: $9,120)
    Trinity Medical Centre
  • Premier Health Screening (Male) for $4,200 (Original: $8,760)
    Trinity Medical Centre
  • Stroke Risk Assessment for $7,100 (Original: 9,430)
    Trinity Medical Centre
  • Cardiac & Coronary Assessment for $5,800 (Original: $8,330)
    Trinity Medical Centre
  • Bone Health Screening for $1,600 (Original: $2,990)
    Trinity Medical Centre
Eye Health
  • Myopia Control Assessment for Children : Privileged Price - HK$400
    Clarity Eye Centres
  • Comprehensive Eye Examination Plan for Adult - HK$500
    Clarity Eye Centres
  • Comprehensive Eye Examination Plan (For SMILE PRO) - HK$400
    Clarity Eye Centres
  • Comprehensive Eye Examination Plan (For ICL) - HK$580
    Clarity Eye Centres
Healthy Matters
Search All
  • Healthy Matters
    Doctors
    Specialty | Address | Phone number
  • Healthy Matters
    Clinics
    Opening Hours | Address | Phone number
Popular Locations
  • Healthy Matters
    Central
  • Healthy Matters
    Tsim Sha Tsui
  • Healthy Matters
    Mong Kok
  • Healthy Matters
    Causeway Bay
Healthy Matters
Home
>
Western medicines > Isosorbide dinitrate

Isosorbide dinitrate

Chinese name:
雙硝異山梨酯
Kenny Cheuk Yin Cheung, Pharmacist
Medically reviewed by
Kenny Cheuk Yin Cheung, Pharmacist
Last Updated: 2022-02-28

What is Isosorbide Dinitrate for?

Isosorbide Dinitrate belongs to a class of medications called nitrates. It produces a vasodilator effect on the peripheral veins and arteries and relaxes vascular smooth muscle to increase oxygen supply to the heart. Isosorbide Dinitrate is therefore used to prevent angina and treat congestive heart failure.

How to use it?

Isosorbide Dinitrate can be taken orally as conventional tablets or sublingual tablets. They should be taken on an empty stomach.

 

For conventional tablets, you should start with 5-20 mg two to three times a day, and may increase the dose to 10-40 mg two to three times a day if tolerated.

 

For sublingual tablets, take 5-10 mg every 2-4 hours for prophylaxis of acute angina as needed. You may also take a 5 mg tablet 15 minutes before activities which may provoke an anginal episode. Swallow the sublingual tablets whole. Do not crush or chew it.

What are the side effects of Isosorbide Dinitrate?

Common side effects of Isosorbide Dinitrate include headache, dizziness, angina, bradycardia, and shortness of breath.

Who should not take Isosorbide Dinitrate?

  • People who are allergic to Isosorbide Dinitrate or any component of the formulation
  • People who are taking riociguat, or medicines for erectile dysfunction (e.g. Avanafil, Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil)

Pharmacist Tips:

  • This drug should not be used as a treatment for angina. In the event of an angina attack, seek immediate medical attention.
  • It is important to have a nitrate-free period (times when you are not taking this medication) more than 14 hours to minimize tolerance. Consider the recommended dosing schedule below if possible.

Common dosing schedule:
Isosorbide Dinitrate should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after food.

 

For twice daily dosing, consider administering at 8 am and 1 pm. For 3 times daily dosing, consider administering at 8 am, 1 pm, and 6 pm.

 

Some common medications Isosorbide Dinitrate may interact with:

  • Riociguat
  • Phosphodiesterase inhibitors, e.g. Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil, Avanafil

Please notify your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the above medication, dosage adjustments might be needed.

Where to buy Isosorbide Dinitrate in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, Isosorbide Dinitrate is a medicine under supervised sales and can be purchased under the supervision of a pharmacist from any pharmacies in Hong Kong. It can also be obtained from doctors. To find a pharmacy near you, refer to the list of pharmacies (“Authorized Sellers of Poisons”) from the Hong Kong Department of Health.

 

For more information about drug names and ingredients, you can visit Hong Kong’s Drug Office at https://www.drugoffice.gov.hk

Need more information?

For detailed information about the use of Isosorbide dinitrate in children, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for questions about drug interactions, please check with your pharmacist or doctor.

Disclaimer: our goal is to provide you with the most relevant drug information and common dosage for Hong Kong. This information does not constitute medical advice. For specific treatment recommendations and advice, always discuss with your doctor or pharmacist, and follow the instructions included with your specific medicine.

Healthy Matters

Your health resource, made in Hong Kong

Healthy Matters is Hong Kong’s leading health resource. Our mission is to help you make better health decisions and take control of your health.

 

Our team of experts is committed to producing reliable health content that is accurate, engaging and relevant, to cover your health & wellness journey from prevention to treatment.

 

Whether you are looking for trusted information on health conditions, wellbeing or looking for the right doctor or service in Hong Kong, we’re here to help!

 

Your health matters. Begin your health journey with Healthy Matters today!

 

Read about our story

illustrations of a doctor and a mobile phone