Isosorbide mononitrate

Chemical formula: C₆H₉NO₆  Molecular mass: 191.139 g/mol  PubChem compound: 27661

Mechanism of action

Organic nitrates (including glyceryl trinitrate, isosorbide dinitrate and isosorbide mononitrate) are potent relaxers of smooth muscle. They have a powerful effect on vascular smooth muscle with less effect on bronchiolar, gastrointestinal, ureteral and uterine smooth muscle. Low concentrations dilate both arteries and veins.

Venous dilatation pools blood in the periphery leading to a decrease in venous return, central blood volume, and ventricular filling volumes and pressures. Cardiac output may remain unchanged or it may decline as a result of the decrease in venous return. Arterial blood pressure usually declines secondary to a decrease in cardiac output or arteriolar vasodilatation, or both. A modest reflex increase in heart rate results from the decrease in arterial blood pressure. Nitrates can dilate epicardial coronary arteries including atherosclerotic stenoses.

Pharmacodynamic properties

Isosorbide mononitrate is an organic nitrate, which, in common with other cardioactive nitrates, is a vasodilator. It produces decreased left and right ventricular end-diastolic pressures to a greater extent than the decrease in systemic arterial pressure, thereby reducing afterload and especially the preload of the heart.

Isosorbide mononitrate influences the oxygen supply to ischaemic myocardium by causing the redistribution of blood flow along collateral channels and from epicardial to endocardial regions by selective dilation of large epicardial vessels.

It reduces the requirements of the myocardium for oxygen by increasing venous capacitance, causing a pooling of blood in peripheral veins, thereby reducing ventricular volume and heart wall distension.

Pharmacokinetic properties

Oral administration – Tablets

Isosorbide 5—mononitrate is rapidly absorbed and peak plasma levels occur approx. 1 hour following oral dosing.

Isosorbide-5-mononitrate is completely bioavailable after oral doses and is not subject to pre-systemic elimination processes.

Isosorbide-5-mononitrate is eliminated from the plasma with a half-life of about 5.1 hours. It is metabolised to isosrbide-5-mn-2-glucoronide, which has a half-life of approximately 2.5 hours. As well as being excreted unchanged in the urine.

After multiple oral dosing plasma concentrations are similar to those that can be predicted from single dose kinetic parameters.

Oral administration – Modified release dosage

Compared with an immediate-release dosage form, the peak plasma concentration obtained is lower and occurs later, while the apparent elimination half-life is unchanged. Thus, compared to ordinary capsules, the absorption phase is prolonged and the duration of effect is extended.

The clinical effects of nitrates may be reduced following repeated administration due to too high and/or constant plasma levels. This can be avoided by allowing low plasma levels for a certain period between doses.

The slow continuous diffusion of the active ingredient from the modified-release microgranules makes it possible, at steady state, to maintain plasma concentrations above the putative effective level of 100ng/ml for a period of about 16 hours for the 40mg capsules and 20 hours for the 60mg capsules. Thus, no development of tolerance should be seen with isosorbide mononitrate SR capsules when they are taken in accordance with the recommended dosage regime.

Absorption

In man, isosorbide mononitrate is absorbed completely and rapidly following oral administration. There is no effect of food on bioavailability.

Distribution

Isosorbide mononitrate has a volume of distribution of about 40 litres and is not significantly protein bound.

Biotransformation

Isosorbide mononitrate is extensively metabolised to nitric oxide (NO-which is the active ingredient) and isosorbide (inactive). Unlike isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate does not undergo first pass hepatic metabolism and provides a low degree of inter-individual variation of blood levels, leading to predictable and reproducible clinical effects.

Elimination

Most of isosorbide mononitrate is excreted unchanged in the urine.

In patients with cirrhotic disease or cardiac failure or renal failure, parameters were similar to those obtained in healthy volunteers.

Preclinical safety data

High concentrations of isosorbide mononitrate in rats is associated with prolonged gestation and parturition, stillbirths and deaths.

After chronic administration at high doses (60mg/kg), signs of toxicity have been detected in canine liver and kidneys. Tests conducted have shown no evidence of a teratogenic or mutagenic potential.

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