# Sotalol ## Basics [Webmd](https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-8848/sotalol-oral/details) Brand Names: Sotacor Class: [[Beta Blockers]] Control: Form: tablets, liquid ## Used for irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) issues such as: - Atrial fibrillation/flutter - [[Ventricular Tachycardia]] ## How it Works Sotalol slows down your heart rate and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. It starts to work after about 4 hours, but it can take 2 to 3 days to fully take effect. You'll usually take sotalol either once a day, in the morning, or twice a day, in the morning and evening. You can take sotalol with or without food, but it's best to do the same each day. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. ## Side Effects The main side effects of sotalol are feeling dizzy or sick, feeling tired, having diarrhoea or a headache. These are usually mild and short-lived. You're more likely to have side effects if you're on a very high dose of sotalol. Your first dose of sotalol may make you feel dizzy, so take it at bedtime. After that, if you do not feel dizzy, you can take it in the morning. Take sotalol even if you feel well, as you will still be getting the benefits of the medicine. Taking too much sotalol can slow down your heart rate and make it difficult to breathe (if these happen, go to dr ASAP. It can also cause dizziness and trembling. #### Common These common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They're usually mild and short-lived. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects bother you or last more than a few days: - headaches - feeling tired, dizzy or weak - cold fingers or toes - diarrhoea, feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) - stomach pain #### Serious call dr/911 asap - the whites of your eyes turn yellow, your skin turns yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin, or you have pale poo or dark pee – these can be signs of liver problems - you get nosebleeds that last for more than 10 minutes, unexplained bruising, or you bruise more easily than usual – these can be signs of low numbers of platelets in your blood (thrombocytopenia) ## Interactions Other symptoms/diagnosis: - ever had an allergic reaction to sotalol or any other medicine - low blood pressure or a slow heart rate - heart failure which is getting worse, heart disease, or you've recently had a heart attack - any problems with your kidneys - an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) – sotalol may make it more difficult to recognise the warning signs of having too much thyroid hormone in your body (thyrotoxicosis) - severe blood circulation problems in your limbs (such as Raynaud's phenomenon), which may make your fingers and toes tingle or turn pale or blue (this may be less noticeable if you have black or brown skin) - metabolic acidosis – when there is too much acid in your blood - a lung disease or severe asthma - severe diarrhea Other Meds: - medicines that can cause abnormal heart rhythms – these include some antibiotics, like clarithromycin and erythromycin, and some antidepressants, like citalopram and amitriptyline - other medicines used to treat an irregular heartbeat, such as amiodarone - medicines for high blood pressure, such as diltiazem or verapamil - medicines that can lower your potassium levels – these include medicines that make you pee more, like furosemide, and some steroids, like prednisolone - medicines for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - medicines for diabetes, including metformin or insulin - medicines for allergies, such as ephedrine, noradrenaline and adrenaline If you use antacids containing aluminum or magnesium, do not take them at the same time as sotalol. These antacids can bind to sotalol and decrease its absorption and effectiveness. Separate doses of these antacids and sotalol by at least 2 hours to reduce this interaction. ## Dosage Available in: 40mg, 80mg and 160mg usual dose of sotalol is between 80mg and 320mg a day Reasons for higher: - If you get irregular heartbeats several times a day, your doctor may prescribe a higher daily dose of up to 640mg. Reasons for lower: - If you are older or have kidney problems Usually, treatment with sotalol is long term, even for the rest of your life. ## Personal History ## Reviews/Feedback--- ## Resources [nhs.uk](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sotalol/#:~:text=Sotalol%20is%20a%20type%20of,pump%20blood%20around%20your%20body.) - alot of info