About Sorbitrate 5 Tablet
Sorbitrate 5 Tablet contains Isosorbide Dinitrate 5 mg. Isosorbide dinitrate is a nitrate medicine. It widens blood vessels so the heart gets more oxygen and has less work to do. It is used to prevent chest pain (angina) and, when placed under the tongue, to relieve an angina attack or prevent one before activity. Your doctor will tell you whether to swallow it or let it dissolve under your tongue.
Uses of Sorbitrate 5 Tablet
- Relief of an angina attack (under the tongue)
- Prevention of angina
- Some types of heart failure, as advised by the doctor
Benefits
In angina
It relaxes and widens blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump and improving blood flow to the heart muscle. This can relieve chest pain quickly when used under the tongue and reduce how often attacks happen.
Side effects
Headache is common at the start and usually gets better with time. Talk to your doctor if side effects bother you.
Common
- Headache
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Flushing
- Fast heartbeat
- Nausea
Get medical help if you notice
- Chest pain that does not ease after using the medicine as directed, or keeps getting worse — call for emergency help
- Fainting or severe dizziness — lie down and seek medical help
- Allergic reaction: rash, swelling of the face or throat — seek emergency care
How to use
Use it exactly as your doctor prescribed. For an angina attack, sit down and place the tablet under your tongue to dissolve; do not swallow it whole. If your doctor has asked you to swallow the tablet for prevention, take it with water at the times advised.
How it works
Isosorbide dinitrate releases nitric oxide in the body, which relaxes the muscles of blood vessel walls. Wider veins and arteries reduce the heart's workload and improve blood flow to the heart.
Safety advice
Alcohol Unsafe
Avoid alcohol. It can make your blood pressure drop too low and cause fainting.
Pregnancy Consult your doctor
Use only if your doctor advises it. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Consult your doctor
It is not known whether it passes into breast milk. Ask your doctor.
Driving Caution
It can cause dizziness, especially at the start. Do not drive if you feel affected.
Kidney Consult your doctor
Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease.
Liver Consult your doctor
Tell your doctor if you have liver disease.
If you miss a dose
If you take it regularly and miss a dose, take it when you remember, unless it is nearly time for the next one. Do not take two doses together. Your doctor may plan a daily dose-free period so the medicine keeps working.
Quick tips
- Sit down before taking it under the tongue, as it can make you dizzy.
- Never take it with sildenafil, tadalafil or similar medicines for erection problems — this can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
- If chest pain does not go away as your doctor told you to expect, call for emergency help.
- Do not stop regular use suddenly; ask your doctor first.
Substitutes
Same salts in the same strength from other makers. Only switch brands on your doctor's or pharmacist's advice; our pharmacist checks every order against the prescription.
Fact box
- Chemical class
- Organic nitrate
- Therapeutic class
- Cardiovascular / anti-anginal
- Action class
- Nitrate vasodilator
- Habit forming
- No
- Prescription
- Required
Interactions with other medicines
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.
| Medicine | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil | Can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure — must not be used together |
| Riociguat | Can cause a severe drop in blood pressure — must not be used together |
| Other blood pressure medicines | Blood pressure may drop too low |
| Alcohol | Adds to the drop in blood pressure |
This page is general information to help you understand your medicine. It is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop or change a medicine on your own.
Written by the Asthra Health Care team from the approved prescribing information (Isosorbide dinitrate prescribing information (CDSCO-approved labelling); NICE BNF: isosorbide dinitrate). Pharmacist review pending.