Solatol

[NLGA]

just been informed I am being changed from Bisoprolol and flecainde to solatol

Any info would be good as it was a phone call I had to take at work and didn’t really ask enough questions

[Rambler398]

Sotalol is a beta blocker with both rhythm and rate control properties.

It also has pro arrhythmic effects and requires monitoring of the QTc interval on the ecg.

NICE BNF is a good source of information.

[BenHall1 in reply to Rambler398]

Hi,

Do you happen to know what the QTc interval is regarded as normal is - in a person without cardiac issues of any sort ? I've had a look at your reference but can't see it. In my 'Normal' ECG it is showing 425 ms.

[Rambler398 in reply to BenHall1]

ecgwaves.com/qt-duration-co...

I think the answer is in this article. The c in QTc presumably means corrected for heart rate.

I should add that I am not a health professional.

[BenHall1 in reply to Rambler398]

Hi Rambler398,

Just wanna thank you for that reference, holiday time coming up .... time for some light reading 😆

[NLGA in reply to BenHall1]

Sorry

I am not educated in these matters

[AFCyclist]

I was changed from Bisoprolol to Sotalol and found it settled down my AF. It did lower my resting heart rate some what to around 50bpm. Go back and ask them some questions.

[LizLancashire]

Interested in your question as it's just been suggested that I do the same.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Hello, have you visited the AF Association website? Our 'Atrial Fibrillation (AF) drug information' booklet contains information about Sotalol (page 10): api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

Kind regards

TracyAdmin

booklet

[Karendeena]

I was switched from bisoprolol and flecainide to Sotalol 3 years ago. I transferred from a cardiologist to an EP and he made that decision saying that Sotalol was a very good drug and I respected his decision. I have just had an ablation so hoping to be able to come off it soon. I haven't had any particular problems (possibly disturbed sleep but that could be because I am under a lot of stress), just break through episodes, hence the Ablation

[Dudtbin]

I’ve been on sotalol since diagnosis. No problems and no AF. !

[NLGA]

great advice and help

Thank you all

[Sixtychick]

I’ve been on Sotalol for at least 15 years, with no problems. It was gradually increased. When they first started me on it, I was monitored in hospital for 2 or 3 days, because it can cause long QT syndrome, which I didn’t understand what that was. Don’t know if they still do that. The dose they put me on in hospital was too high and made me feel awful, but I was ok once they gave me a lower dose of 40 mg twice a day and then over the years, it was gradually increased, so before my ablation I was on 80 mg in the morning and 120mg at night. After my ablation, last September, they reduced the evening dose to 80 mg and then in February, when I went to my follow-up appointment, the Doctor told me to gradually come off it. I am doing it very slowly 20 mg at a time and I am now down to 40 mg twice a day, but getting a few palpitations, so am staying on this dose for a while and then try to reduce it again by 20 mg a time, till I’m off it altogether. It’s a bit scary reducing it, after having been on it so long, as it says can cause heart attacks and strokes and heart rhythm disturbances, if stopped suddenly, which I must say, put’s you off a bit. I think starting any new drug can be a bit worrying, as you don’t know if you’ll get any of they side effects they always list. I’m sure you’ll be fine.

[NLGA in reply to Sixtychick]

thank you

Apparently they send a app to my phone to monitor me for a week

[Sixtychick in reply to NLGA]

Is that what they do now. ! Hope you get on with it ok. Can I just give you some advice. There are quite a lot of drugs that react with Sotalol, so I went on the NICE website and got a list of the drugs it interacts with and I keep it on my phone and always check it, if I am given any new drugs. It’s surprising how many times the Dr or the hospital, when I went in with my AFib, were going to give me drugs that would react with the Sotalol, it’s always best to check first. Hope that’s useful to you. I also have a list for my statin and anticoagulant.

[NLGA]

good idea thanks

[Durdad]

Protocol here for starting sotalol is 80mg bid for 5 doses in the hospital on monitor with 12lead bid 3° after dose to measure QTc. Need to be under 500ms to stay on drug. If don't achieve NSR on drug alone, then cardiovert late AM on 3rd day.. just my experience...

[NLGA in reply to Durdad]

That’s very different to how it was explained

I have to have a ecg a week or so after first taking it

Then a APP for a week to monitor me where I just put my finger on it a few times a day

[Durdad in reply to NLGA]

Seems to be more or less standard approach to starting sotalol in USA. I will also get an ekg a week after discharge.

[BaileyC57]

I took Flecainde and did not like it and went to Solatol , I took 40 mg twice a day ! The 80 mg twice a day was too much for me! I did good!

[KentAndrew]

My Consultant recommended the same change about a year ago.

I have not had any side effects or issues.