What is Isosorbide Dinitrate: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

Updated May 14, 2025  •  Published Dec 30, 2020

Isosorbide Dinitrate overview

BRAND NAMES:

  • Dilatrate-SR, Isordil Titradose

Generic Names:

  • Isosorbide Dinitrate

Uses:

  • Treats and prevents angina. This medicine is a nitrate.

Therapeutic Classes:

  • Coronary Vasodilator, Antianginal

Forms:

  • Chewable Tablet, Long Acting Tablet, Tablet, Long Acting Capsule

How it’s taken:

  • By mouth

What is Isosorbide Dinitrate used for?

Isosorbide dinitrate is a medication used to treat chest pain (angina) due to heart disease. This drug belongs to a class of medications called nitrates. Isosorbide dinitrate works by expanding blood vessels. Isosorbide dinitrate is a generic drug also sold under the brand names Dilatrate-SR, Dilatrate, and Isordil. This drug has been available for years. In the treatment of chest pain, isosorbide dinitrate use is common.

What form(s) does Isosorbide Dinitrate come in

  • Chewable Tablet

  • Long Acting Tablet

  • Tablet

  • Long Acting Capsule

What are common Isosorbide Dinitrate doses?

  • Tablet 5MG

  • Tablet 10MG

  • Tablet 20MG

  • Tablet 30MG

  • Tablet 40MG

Common Isosorbide Dinitrate prescriptions

  • Isosorbide Dinitrate
    10mg tablet

  • Isosorbide Dinitrate
    20mg tablet

  • Isosorbide Dinitrate
    30mg tablet

  • Isosorbide Dinitrate
    40mg tablet

  • Isosorbide Dinitrate
    5mg tablet

How to take Isosorbide Dinitrate

  • Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

  • Missed dose: If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If your next regular dose is less than 2 hours away, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

  • Sublingual tablet: Sit down while you take this medicine. Wet the tablet with water. Place it under your tongue and let it dissolve. Do not chew, crush, or swallow the tablet whole. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while the tablet is dissolving. If your chest pain lasts longer than 5 minutes, put a second tablet under your tongue. If the pain lasts another 5 minutes, use a third tablet. If your pain does not go away after the third dose, call your doctor and have someone take you to a hospital.

  • Extended-release tablet or capsule: Swallow the tablet or capsule whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.

  • Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

  • Missed dose: If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If your next regular dose is less than 2 hours away, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

  • Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

  • Extended-release tablet or capsule: Swallow the tablet or capsule whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.

  • Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

  • Sublingual tablet: Sit down while you take this medicine. Wet the tablet with water. Place it under your tongue and let it dissolve. Do not chew, crush, or swallow the tablet whole. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while the tablet is dissolving. If your chest pain lasts longer than 5 minutes, put a second tablet under your tongue. If the pain lasts another 5 minutes, use a third tablet. If your pain does not go away after the third dose, call your doctor and have someone take you to a hospital.

What to do if you miss a dose of Isosorbide Dinitrate

Isosorbide Dinitrate contraindications

  • This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to isosorbide.

Isosorbide Dinitrate warnings

  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you had a heart attack or you have heart failure, an enlarged heart, low blood pressure, or other heart problems.

  • Medicines that treat angina sometimes cause headaches. These headaches are a sign that the medicine is working. Do not stop taking the medicine or change the time you take it to avoid the headaches. Ask your doctor if you can take aspirin or acetaminophen to treat the headache.

  • This medicine could cause low blood pressure, which may make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. You may feel lightheaded when standing, so stand up slowly. Drinking alcohol may make these symptoms worse.

  • Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Isosorbide Dinitrate interactions

  • Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

  • This medicine could cause low blood pressure, which may make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. You may feel lightheaded when standing, so stand up slowly. Drinking alcohol may make these symptoms worse.

  • Some foods and medicines can affect how isosorbide dinitrate works. Tell your doctor if you take blood pressure medicine or if you drink alcohol.

  • Do not use this medicine together with riociguat or with medicine for erectile dysfunction, such as avanafil, sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil.

Isosorbide Dinitrate side effects

Serious Side Effects

  • Severe or ongoing dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting

  • Throbbing or severe headache, confusion, fever, trouble seeing

  • Increased chest pain, slow heartbeat

  • Blue lips or fingernails, trouble breathing

  • Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Less Serious Side Effects

  • Mild headache

Subscribe to our savings newsletter

Health education, drug info, wellness & more

By clicking 'Subscribe', I agree to SingleCare's Terms & Conditions.