Details

Sotalol is a beta-blocker that affects the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins). Sotalol is used to help keep the heart beating normally in people with certain heart rhythm disorders of the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow out of the heart). Sotalol is used in people with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to sotalol, or if you have a serious heart condition such as "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker) severe heart failure asthma or other breathing disorder low levels of potassium in your blood severe kidney disease a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome or a history of slow heart beats that have caused you to faint. To make sure sotalol is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have breathing problems such as bronchitis or emphysema a history of heart disease or congestive heart failure coronary artery disease (hardened arteries) an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood) diabetes kidney disease a thyroid disorder a history of allergies or if you have recently had a heart attack.

Typical Uses

Sotalol is used to treat a serious (possibly life-threatening) type of fast heartbeat called sustained ventricular tachycardia. It is also used to treat certain fast/irregular heartbeats (atrial fibrillation/flutter) in patients with severe symptoms such as weakness and shortness of breath. Sotalol helps to lessen these symptoms. It slows the heart rate and helps the heart to beat more normally and regularly. This medication is both a beta blocker and an anti-arrhythmic.

Side Effects

Common sotalol side effects may include headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats slow heartbeats a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out trouble breathing severe diarrhoea or vomiting, loss of appetite dry mouth, unusual sweating, increased thirst or swelling, rapid weight gain.

Drug Interactions

• Sotalol+apomorphine- Using sotalol together with apomorphine can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.
• Sotalol+amitriptyline- Using amitriptyline together with sotalol can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.
• Sotalol+chloroquine- Using chloroquine together with sotalol can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.
• Sotalol+droperidol- Using droperidol together with sotalol can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.

Mechanism of action

Sotalol belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. It works by acting on the heart muscle to improve the heart's rhythm.

Pregnancy Category : B