Sotalol and antibiotics/Sotalol and nausea

[caddowens]

Hello All

Just found this forum...I am the spouse of an 85 y/o man who  had small stroke and a CABG in 1991, TIAs in late 90s, then a carotid enderectomy (no more TIAs) and then about 2005 developed atrial fibrillation.  He has been on coumadin therapy, been tried on amiodorone, but stopped after one dose due to change in liver .

This spring he has also developed PVCs and after a long hospitalization, was started on Sotalol and had a pacemaker implanted. He also has decreased renal function.  I reallize often we don't get enough info from the health care personnel, but it seems this time, I was inundated with info and am still trying to assimilate it all.  

He has been so nauseated since beginning the Sotalol...does anyone else have this problem?  Then last week at followup Renal Clinic visit - he had UTI and they Rx antibiotic...the doc said Bactrim was the only thing he could prescribe for this UTI that he could take while taking Sotalol.  No one mentioned this when they started the Sotalol.

So - questions -
1. how frequent is extreme nausea a factor with Sotalol?
2. Does anyone know what helps the nausea?

3.  I am concerned with this antibiotic challenge as has chronic bronchitis and COPD and get URI that often need antibiotic Rx...Anyone else know about this?

[DeltaDawn23]

That seems like a good thing to know -- in advance -- not when you're in the middle of an infection.  I am going to get it clarified with my cardio too.

[caddowens]

Appreciate your comments...we see so many docs, some at a teaching hospital, some affiliated with a smaller community hospital and then V.A. who insist they have to know every thing - as they supply most of his meds... It is very hard to keep up...hubby will take whatever they say without questioning and I won't.  So, sometimes I am in between a rock and a hard place.  

I am very concerned with this Sotalol and hope the cardiologist will be forthcoming about what antibiotics he can safely take.  I think we need to know now, before he needs one.

[DeltaDawn23]

I am taking Norpace and after reading the fine print that came with the Rx, found that certain antibiotics can cause dangerous heart rhythms.  No one mentioned this to me, and I am concerned that I might end up with an infection and no antibiotic to fight it.  I cannot take Erhythomycin, Clairamycin, or Biaxin -- all antiobiotics I did well on before.  I also need to antiobiotics before dental work and am anxious about that as well.  Amioderone caused nausea in my Mother, and I have some problems with the Norpace, but I already took Prevacid and that and smaller meals, and avoiding spicy meals helps.  Norpace has a slight anorexic effect, which is not maybe a bad thing for me, because I need to lose some weight. I am going to discuss it with my cardio next week.  I would keep asking questions.  I am glad your doctor knew not to prescribe antibiotics that would cause trouble -- one woman on this forum had a bad reaction and ended up in ICU.  These types of issues should be a black box warning on the medication!  I hope some of this is useful.  Good luck to you.