Brand name:
Duride
Pronounced: Du-rI-DE
Generic name: Isosorbide mononitrate
Other brand names: Ismo, Monoket
Why is Duride prescribed?

Duride is prescribed to prevent angina pectoris (crushing chest pain that results when partially clogged arteries restrict the flow of needed oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle). This medication does not relieve angina attacks already underway.
Most important fact about Duride

Duride may cause severe low blood pressure (possibly marked by dizziness or fainting), especially when you are standing or if you sit up quickly. People taking blood pressure medication or those who have low blood pressure should use Duride with caution.
How should you take Duride?

To maintain Duride's protective effect, it is important that you take it exactly as prescribed.

Take Duride once a day, when you get up in the morning. It may be taken with or without food. Duride tablets should not be crushed or chewed. Swallow them with half a glass of liquid.

Do not switch to another brand of isosorbide mononitrate without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

If you miss a dose

Take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.

Storage instructions...

Store at room temperature.
Duride side effects

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, tell your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Duride.

Headache is the most common side effect; usually, aspirin or acetaminophen will relieve the pain. The headaches associated with Duride usually subside within a short time after treatment with the drug begins. Check with your doctor if your headaches persist or become more intense. Another common side effect is dizziness.
Why should Duride not be prescribed?

You should not take Duride if you have had a previous allergic reaction to it or to other heart medications containing nitrates or nitrites. Your doctor will probably not prescribe Duride if you have had a recent heart attack or congestive heart failure. If the doctor decides that Duride is essential, your heart function and blood pressure will need to be closely monitored to avoid potential side effects.
Special warnings about Duride

Do not abruptly stop taking Duride. Follow your doctor's plan for a gradual withdrawal.

Since Duride can cause dizziness, you should be careful while driving, operating machinery, or performing other tasks that demand concentration.

Nitrate-type medications such as Duride may aggravate angina caused by certain heart conditions.

Do not try to avoid a headache by changing your dose. If your headache stops, it may mean the drug has lost its effectiveness.

Be sure to tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have before starting Duride therapy.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Duride

If Duride is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Extreme low blood pressure with dizziness and fainting upon standing up may occur if Duride is taken with the impotence drug Viagra or calcium-blocking blood pressure medications such as Calan, Cardizem, and Procardia.

Alcohol may interact with Duride and cause a swift decrease in blood pressure, possibly resulting in light-headedness.
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

The effects of Duride during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. Duride should be used during pregnancy only if it is clearly needed.

It is not known whether Duride appears in breast milk. If the drug is essential to your health, your doctor may advise you to stop nursing until your treatment is finished.
Recommended dosage for Duride

ADULTS
Overdosage

Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. Severe overdosage of Duride can be fatal. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical help immediately.

* Symptoms of Duride overdose may include:
Air hunger, bloody diarrhea, coma, confusion, difficulty breathing, fainting, fever, nausea, palpitations, paralysis, pressure in the head, profuse sweating, seizures, skin either cold and clammy or flushed, slow heartbeat, throbbing headache, vertigo, visual disturbances, vomiting