Re: SVT

Posted By CCF CARDIO  MD - CRC on March 03, 1999 at 08:06:42:

In Reply to: SVT posted by Rachel on March 03, 1999 at 00:09:55:






I was diagnosed with SVT about 20 years ago.  I am now 28.  I have been on sotacor for most of that time which has pretty much totally controlled the attacks.
I have only really started to think about my long-term drug taking recently as I would like to have a baby in the next year or so.
My regular doctor told me that you shouldn't take sotacor when pregnant.  Are there other drugs which do the same thing that are perfectly safe?
Does a mother experiencing SVT symptoms affect a baby?
Is it healthy just to go cold turkey after taking sotacor for so long?
I have read a lot about ablations in this forum.  As I am writing from Australia (Melbourne) I am interested to know if they are widely performed worldwide or just in the US?  Considering that my SVT is controllable with the drugs would you recommend it?
I would appreciate it if anyone has answers to my many questions.
Rachel





Dear Rachel,
Thank you for your question.  I'm not familiar with sotocor.  Do you perhaps mean sotalol?  Sotalol (brand name Betapace) is a Class II and III antiarrhythmic that comes in 80, 120, 160 and 240 mg tablets.  It is indicated for a variety of heart arrhythmias.  It is usually initiated in the hospital on ECG monitoring due to a potential for inducing ventricular tachycardia.  The dosage starts at 80 mg twice daily and may be increased as needed.
Contraindications: Asthma, sinus bradycardia, 2nd or 3rd degree AV block unless paced, long QT syndromes, cardiogenic shock, uncompensated heart failure.
Precautions: sick sinus syndrome, heart failure, recent MI, diabetes.  Not recommended in nursing mothers.
However it is presumed safe in pregnancy (Class B).
Drug interactions: Avoid Class 1A and Class III antiarrhythmics; caution with Class I antiarrhythmics; phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants, astemizole.
Potential adverse reactions: bradycardia, chest pain, palpitations, edema (swelling) ECG abnormalities, hypo- or hypertension, dyspnea (shortness of breath), asthma, dizziness, fatigue, headache, fainting, GI upset and rash.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.