change of medication

have just been to cardiologist for results of echo, ECG and 24 hr holter, due to a continuous irregular heartbeat. have been taking antenolol for the last 10 years but for the last 6 months the arythmias   have got wors. he said that i had frequent spv's or stv's not really sure but said that even though they were bothersome to me it was nothing to worry about and has perscribed me sotalol  which after reading some of the side affects i am too scared to start on them and think i would rather stick to the antenolol . i am confused as to what to do as they are no longer controling my condition. please could someone advice me. thanku , shelly  

[tom_h]

This sounds like me.  Several months prior and before my ablation was even considered, my PCP put me on Sotalol after I went to him complaining that someting had to be done about my frequent PVCs and 5X/month expisodes of SVT.  He wrote me a prescription for Sotalol.  Sometimes, a little knowledge is dangerous!  I went home, looked it up, and read all about the "side effects" of this drug.  Nonetheless, I filled it and gave it a try. Whether or not it was mind over matter, I immediately suffered a difficult to convert episode of SVT.  I immediately stopped it, contacted my PCP, and was referred my cardiologist for work.

Sotalol is a class III antiarrhythmic agent and is often used for ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibillation.

[CFS56]

I had been taking atenolol for a couple of years and everything was fine, then it just seemed like it quit working.  I ended up in the ER a bunch of times and was eventually put on sotalol.  I was afraid to take it too but I did and a month later ended up back in the ER.  My EP took me off of it and put me on bystolic, which is just a regular beta blocker, like atenolol.  So far, so good, it's been a little over a year.  But as to way the atenolol just stops working I havent any idea but the same thing happened to me.  I would talk to your cardio and ask if you could try something else medication wise.  There are lots of beta blockers out there.

[yvonnealderdice]

I'm on bisoprolol, seems okay, helps the arrythmia but slows the pulse too, maybe worth asking about.

My prob is reading side effects too, the best option is not to.

Yvonne xx