Sotalol - a beta-blocker

About sotalol

Sotalol is a type of beta-blocker used to treat irregular heartbeats.

Your heartbeat is regulated by special tissues within your heart which conduct electric impulses. Fast irregular heartbeats can be caused by these tissues conducting impulses too quickly or too erratically.

Sotalol works on the heart and blood vessels. It does this by blocking tiny areas (called beta-adrenergic receptors) where messages sent by some nerves are received by your heart and blood vessels. As a result, your heart beats more slowly, and this helps to prevent abnormally fast heart rhythms, called tachyarrhythmias.

The most common side effects of sotalol are:

• Feeling tired, sleepy or weak.

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.

• Feeling sick (nausea).

• Being sick (vomiting).

• Stomach ache.

• Diarrhoea.

• Indigestion.

• Farting (wind).

• Headache.

• Slow heartbeat and other heart rhythm problems.

• Känner mig andfådd.

You may also experience other side effects such as:

• Chest pain.

• Rash.

• Muscle cramps.

• Difficulties sleeping.

• Changes in mood.

• Sexual problems.

• An altered sense of taste.

• Disturbances to hearing or vision.

Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of these side effects continue or become troublesome.

The best place to find a full list of the side effects which can be associated with your medicine, is from the manufacturer's printed information leaflet supplied with the medicine.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the tablets, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking sotalol it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you have asthma or any other breathing difficulties.

• If you have diarrhoea.

• If you have low blood pressure or poor circulation.

• If you have any problems with the way your kidneys work.

• If you have diabetes (diabetes mellitus).

• If you have a skin problem called psoriasis.

• Om du är gravid eller ammar.

• Om du har ett tillstånd som orsakar muskelsvaghet, kallat myasthenia gravis.

• If you have been told you have heart failure, heart block, sick sinus syndrome, or any other heart condition.

• If you have been told you have chest pain caused by spasms of your heart's blood vessels, called Prinzmetal's angina.

• Om du tar några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel du tar som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine, or if you have ever had any other kind of severe allergic reaction.

• Read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about sotalol and will provide you with a full list of the side effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take sotalol exactly as your doctor tells you to. You may be started on just one tablet a day to begin with. Once your body has adjusted to the new medicine, it is usual to take two doses a day (morning and evening).

  • Your doctor will gradually increase the strength of the tablets until you are on a dose which best suits your condition.

  • You will be told what dose is right for you, and the directions for taking the tablets will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said to you.

• You can take sotalol either with or without food, but try to take your doses at the same time(s) of day each day as this will help you to remember to take it regularly. The tablets are best swallowed with a drink of water.

• Sotalol tablets are available in several different strengths: 40 mg, 80 mg, 160 mg and 200 mg.

  • Each time you collect a fresh supply of tablets, it's a good idea to check the strength on the packet to make sure they are the strength you are expecting.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember (unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose and take the next dose as normal). Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress. Your doctor will want to check your heartbeat regularly, and you will also need to have some blood tests.

• Your doctor is likely to give you dietary and lifestyle advice about eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and taking a little regular exercise. If so, it is important that you follow the advice you are given.

• Treatment with sotalol is usually long-term. Continue to take the tablets unless your doctor tells you to stop. Stopping treatment suddenly can cause problems in some people, so your doctor may want you to reduce your dose gradually if this becomes necessary.

• If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor for advice about drinking while you are on sotalol. It may not be advisable for you.

• If you have diabetes, sotalol can block the symptoms of low blood sugar. Your doctor will advise you about this.

• If you are due to have an operation or dental treatment, it is important to tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking a beta-blocker. This is particularly important if you are likely to be given an anaesthetic.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with sotalol. Some medicines may not be (including some antihistamines, anti-inflammatory painkillers, and cold or flu remedies).

• Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

• Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.

How is sotalol different from other beta blockers?

Sotalol is a beta-blocker, but it works a bit differently from many others because it also affects the electrical activity of the heart. This makes it useful not only for lowering blood pressure and heart rate but also for treating certain heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias).

Why can't you have dairy with sotalol?

Most people can take sotalol with dairy, but follow your doctor’s advice on timing to ensure proper absorption.

Can sotalol cause nosebleeds?

Sotalol does not commonly cause nosebleeds, but they can occur as a rare side effect. If you notice frequent or heavy nosebleeds while taking sotalol, it’s important to speak to your doctor to check for other causes.