28 year old male - ICD implanted in 2003 due to suspected ARVC based on family history. This was a prophylactic treatment as I did not have any documented episodes of VT, etc prior to implant.
Have only had one shock since then (going on almost four years) - shcok was for fast VT (approx 260 bpm).
My question relates to medications. After the shock (January 2006) doc rx'ed atenolol (25 mg once a day). On average, this dropped my heart rate into the 50's and I had no complaints due to the low heart rate.
However, due to an increase in PVCs recently, my cardiologist suggested we try sotalol (was at my request as PVCs were bothersome). I have been taking 80 mg twice a day for approximately 3 months now.
I have two questions regarding the sotalol:
(1) Originally, like the atenolol, the sotalol reduced my heart rate into the 50's. However, the past month or so my heart rate is back up into the 70's?? Can the beta blocking effects of sotalol wane over time? Also, does this mean the drug is no longer working to reduce probability of arrythmia (i.e. is the drug still acting to prolong refractory period?)
(2) Also, how effective is sotalol at decreasing the incidence of ventricular arrtyhtmias (i.e. are there any studies, etc?) I ask becasue I am considering going back to atenolol!
Regards
ICD_2003