Isosorbide mononitrate

[kushami]

I’ve been trying this medication, which is a vasodilator, to counteract my problems with abnormal cerebral vasoconstriction.

It hasn’t been easy, with “nitrate headache” from my head via my teeth to my shoulders, and a couple of stomach aches. Also cups of tea have tasted funny, which is a worry as an ersatz Brit.

But I seem to be getting there.

It generally takes 2–4 weeks for the headaches to pass, if they are going to. They do pass for most people.

It seems to be working underneath the headaches, although I can’t be sure yet.

I am not sure how it would be in summer, because sometimes my hands and feet are quite warm – not unpleasantly so, now in the middle of winter, but wouldn’t be good in the heat.

You can take paracetamol or NSAIDs for the headaches (if okayed by your doctor for your particular health situation). I can take paracetamol, but it is only helping slightly.


Please note I have OCHOS, not ME/CFS. See this thread for explanation:
https://forums.phoenixrising.me/thr...min-for-severe-pots.58012/page-2#post-2459649

 

[kushami]

Update:

After all that, I have to stop taking it.

I have testing coming up, and have to do a “medication washout” – stopping medications that would affect the test – for three weeks.

I don’t know whether I will start it again after testing, because I may have access to nimodipine by then.

 

[kushami]

I decided not to take it again. Most of the nice folk on the heart-related forum where I went for support said they got over the side effects at 2–4 weeks, but I wussed out.

There are many other options for me, as I don’t have angina, all with less troublesome side effects.

If you have sensitive teeth, do be cautious trying this medication. It took weeks for my one sensitive tooth to get back to its normal annoying level of sensitivity. Not the worst thing ever, but it brought my mood down more than I would have expected.