sotalol - toprol

Friday I had my 6 month post ablation (a-fib/a-flutter) check up. My CT scan, echo look great and I have had no a-fib or a-flutter attacks since. I have been having occasional PVC"S and PAC"S, but nothing too bothersome. My EP has decided to "wean" me off sotalol, and now I am to take Toprol 25mg twice a day for 3 months, then 25mg once a day for the next three months. Then hopefully, in February he will take me off the toprol (as long the the monitors show no activity). My question is, what is the difference between the to drugs? What kind of side effects can I expect with the toprol?

[dolfnlvr]

Hi there!  CONGRATULATIONS on these WONDERFUL primary results!!!!!

To answer your question...

     Sotalol is a potassium channel blocker as well as a beta blocker.  By blocking the potassium channels, sotalol prolongs repolarization, therefore lengthening the QT interval and decreasing automaticity (it makes your rogue cells chill out!!!).  As a beta blocker, the sotalol slows your AV node conduction which can decrease the effects of adrenaline on heart rate.

     Toprol, on the other hand, is ONLY a beta blocker.  It does not have the potassium channel blocking ability and therefore is not used to treat afib or aflutter.

Basically, your doctor thinks that your afib is cured!!!!! He's taking you off the afib meds and letting you remain on the beta blockers while your heart recoups from the trauma of the ablation and continues to skip and thump every once in awhile.


As for side effects of the toprol........they are the same as the side effects of the sotalol (fatigue, dizziness, dream effects etc.)  But, if you've done well with the sotalol then you probably won't notice the shift at all.

GOOD NEWS ALL THE WAY AROUND!!!!


Take care.....

[twinbee]

Thank you for the info. I am really pleased with my outcome. Now hopefully if everything looks good on the monitors (I'm wearing one now to make sure it is ok to be off the sotalol and then I will be on one in February)  he will take me off the toprol and then if I stay in NSR for six months after the toprol he will start to "wean" me off the coumadin. So right now I am still looking at another year of coumadin. But, I now can see the "light" at the end of the tunnel.