Effects and pharmacokinetics of isosorbide dinitrate in normal man

18 subjects were given isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) 5 mg sublingually and serum concentrations of ISDN, 2-isosorbide mononitrate (2-ISMN) and 5-isosorbide mononitrate (5-ISMN) were measured, as well as changes in digital plethysmographic amplitude, heart rate, ECG, blood pressure and Schellong's test. ISDN was rapidly absorbed and metabolized, having an elimination half-life of 29 min. Its metabolites 2-ISMN and 5-ISMN had longer half-lives of 1.75 and 7.6 h respectively. The amplitude of the alpha-wave of the digital plethysmograph did not change significantly either in the pre-drug period or after placebo administration. It increased within 4 min of administration of ISDN, and reached a maximum after 14 min; the effect lasted for about 2 h. ISDN lowers blood pressure and increases heart rate in most volunteers, but in 3 of the 18 subjects severe hypotension occurred, accompanied by severe, reversible bradycardia, which was probably due to vagal reflexes initiated by the markedly diminished ventricular enddiastolic volume (LVEDV) and pressure (LVEDP). No correlation could be demonstrated between the serum concentration of ISDN and/or its vasoactive metabolites and changes in plethysmographic amplitude.