Common uses

Monoket is used to prevent angina (chest pain) caused by heart disease.

Before using

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you
• have had a heart attack
• have congestive heart failure
• have low blood pressure;
• have had a stroke, a transient ischemic attack (TIA, or mini-stroke), or a serious head injury;
• have anemia;
• have an allergy to nitrates;
• have closed-angle glaucoma;
• suffer from migraines;
• have kidney disease; or
• have liver disease.
The conditions listed above may prevent you from taking isosorbide or you may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during your therapy.

Directions

Use Monoket as directed by your doctor.
• Take Monoket by mouth with or without food.
• This medication should be taken twice daily, with the doses 7 hours apart. The first dose should preferably be taken in the morning upon waking up, unless directed otherwise by your doctor.
• Do not suddenly stop taking Monoket . You may have an increased risk of side effects (eg, angina attacks). If you need to stop Monoket or add a new medicine, your doctor will gradually lower your dose.

Cautions

Contra-indications:
• Don't use Monoket if you are also taking phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (eg, sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil);
• Don't take Monoket if you have allergy to any ingredient that composes Monoket, or to other nitrate medicines;
• Never take Monoket if you drink alcohol.
If any of listed above happens to you, please contact your doctor or health provider immediately.
Keep in mind the following facts about Monoket:
• Avoid driving or performing any other potentially unsafe tasks until you know how medicine affects you.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages while taking Monoket.
• Some of the side effects are: dizziness, light-headedness; fainting. Such factors as hot weather, alcohol, physical exercise and fever may increase these effects. Stand up and sit up slowly to prevent them, especially be careful in the morning. In case if any of these effects are present, sit or lie down if possible.
• When you start taking Monoket, headaches may occur as side effects. Consult with your doctor on ways to reduce headache.
• Monoket may not be compatible with certain lab tests. Make sure that your doctor and lab personnel know what medicines you take.
• Children should not take Monoket. It's effectiveness and safety for children haven't been confirmed.
• Taking Monoket is intended to prevent angina attacks, not for curing it. So don't use it to stop an attack of angina.
• In case you become pregnant, please contact your doctor. There will appear a need to discuss all the risks and benefits of taking Monoket during pregnancy. It's unknown whether Monoket may be found in breast milk. If you are/ will be breast-feeding while you take Monoket, contact your doctor to discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Monoket should be used only in case if it's prescribed to a patient. Never share it with other people.

Possible side effects

If any of listed below most common side effects are bothering you with their persistence, discuss them with your doctor:
• dizziness;
• nausea;
• headache.
If any of these severe side effects occur, seek for medical support immediately:
• severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; itching; swelling of the mouth, face, lips or tongue; tightness in the chest);
• fainting;
• numbness of a leg or arm;
• sudden severe headache;
• sudden leg pain;
• changes in vision;
• severe stomach pain;
• sharp or crushing chest pain;
• vomiting;
• sudden shortness of breath.
If your health symptoms' condition doesn't improve, or if they even become worse, in that case you have to discuss it with your doctor.

If you take too much

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

Additional information

Monoket is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Drug interactions

If Monoket 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 Monoket is taken with the impotence drug Viagra or calcium-blocking blood pressure medications such as Calan, Cardizem, and Procardia.
Alcohol may interact with Monoket and cause a swift decrease in blood pressure, possibly resulting in light-headedness.