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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Sotalol
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-CRC, Mar 29, 2002 12:00AM
Dear neener99,
Sotalol is an antiarrhythmic drug in the same class of medications as beta-blockers so it can cause all the same side-effects as beta-blockers such as problems with cognitive ability, fatigue, slow heart rates and shortness of breath. It can cause problems in men in the ability to have an erection but I am not aware of a similar effect in women.
Here is some additional information about 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.
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.
Sotalol is an antiarrhythmic drug in the same class of medications as beta-blockers so it can cause all the same side-effects as beta-blockers such as problems with cognitive ability, fatigue, slow heart rates and shortness of breath. It can cause problems in men in the ability to have an erection but I am not aware of a similar effect in women.
Here is some additional information about 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.
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.
