Two medicines, side by side
Isosorbide mononitrate vs isosorbide dinitrate
Isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate are both labeled for angina. Drugs@FDA records approvals of isosorbide mononitrate since 1991 and of isosorbide dinitrate since 1959. Pharmacies paid $0.0688 per isosorbide mononit ER 30 mg tablet and $0.154 per isosorbide dinitrate 10 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the isosorbide mononitrate FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 11, 2026); the isosorbide dinitrate FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 2, 2020).
Highlights of the isosorbide mononitrate record
Isosorbide mononitrate (Ismo) · label of May 11, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsIsosorbide mononitrate extended-release tablets, USP are indicated for the prevention of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease. The onset of action of oral isosorbide mononitrate is not sufficiently rapid for this product to be useful in aborting an acute anginal episode.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 30, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 21 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0688 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the isosorbide dinitrate record
Isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil) · label of March 2, 2020
Used for
From the label: indicationsIsosorbide Dinitrate tablets are indicated for the prevention of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease. The onset of action of immediate-release oral isosorbide dinitrate is not sufficiently rapid for this product to be useful in aborting an acute anginal episode.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 9, 1959
- Generic labelers
- 17 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.154 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Isosorbide mononitrate label of May 11, 2026, Isosorbide dinitrate label of March 2, 2020); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class nitrate vasodilators.
Half-life, in each label's words: Isosorbide mononitrate, “The mean plasma elimination half-life of ISMN is approximately 5 hours.”; Isosorbide dinitrate, “The 2-mononitrate has been less well studied, but it appears to participate in the same metabolic pathways, with a …”
Generics: isosorbide mononitrate since 1998; isosorbide dinitrate since 1978 (Drugs@FDA).
| Isosorbide mononitrate | Isosorbide dinitrate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Angina | Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | Nitrate Vasodilator | Nitrate Vasodilator |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The mean plasma elimination half-life of ISMN is approximately 5 hours. | The 2-mononitrate has been less well studied, but it appears to participate in the same metabolic pathways, with a half-life of about 2 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 30, 1991 | November 9, 1959 |
| First generic approved | September 22, 1998 | December 1, 1978 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 21 labelers | 17 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0688 per tablet (Isosorbide mononit ER 30 mg tablet) | $0.154 per tablet (Isosorbide dinitrate 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | -18% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 20,616 | 19,415 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to isosorbide mononitrate
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions