Sotalol Side Effects

Hey everyone. I have been on Sotalol for five days now and the side effects are debilitating. I have a horrible headache that will not go away and a lot of nausea. I will not be able to handle this on a daily basis. I was wondering who else has been on this medicine and if they had side effects. Is there another medicine with less side effects?
I go back to the doctor on Friday for follow-up and tests. Hopefully these side effects will go away but so far they just keep getting worse every day. Although it does seem to be helping my heart. So do I have to choose one bad thing or the other?

5 Comments

Caused different problems..

by turboz24 - 2010-02-24 05:02:10

I never got sick or had headaches from Sotalol, but I did experience depression due to the medication. It also reduced my BP and heart rate pretty badly (60/30 BP at rest) and sleeping, I'd get pretty close to the 40 bpm minimum set on my ICD. I had a hard time raising my heart rate and felt like a Zombie while I was on it. In fact, I really don't remember much the 6-8 months I was on 200/240 mg/day.

I was lucky enough to have a successful ablation so I take just a tiny amount these days (40 mg 2/day). 80 mg/day is nothing and it doesn't adversly affect me.

Sotalol reply

by LS - 2010-02-24 07:02:04

I was on Sotalol for a short time. It just didn't work for me, so I'm now on Lopressor & Tikosin.
I didn't have side effects, it just didn't help with the Atrial Tachycardia (before PM.) Many of them make you tired. they sure did to me. I also know it takes time to adjust to the Rx.
There are other options out there, so talk with your Dr.

Sotalol Side Effects

by SMITTY - 2010-02-24 07:02:28

I'm sure you know Sotalol is a beta blocker. Beta blockers are prescribed (in theory anyway) to slow the heart rate to a point that the PVC/PAC/skip beats do not occur. This is accomplished by essentially taking the heart's natural pacemaker out of play which then allows the manmade pacemaker take over the job of keeping the heart beating.

I'll know my description is an over simplification of the process, but that is what I have concluded is taking place when I have tried beta blockers on a number of occasions during the last 25+ years. I think there are 16 or 17 on the market today (with Sotalol being the newest one) and I have tried 9 of them, before and after I got a pacemaker, all with the same effect. Yes. most of them did help with the arrhythmia, and after I got my PM it could bring my heart rate back to a livable rate.

No, I was never concerned about dying because I knew I would have to feel better to die. All beta blockers have the same effect on me, but I understand there are many people that take the things and get the desired results without the adverse side effects.

When you see the doctor and tell him how you are feeling. possibly he will know of another medicine that you can take that will accomplish the goal with out the debilitating side effects.

Good l.uck,

Smitty

Sotalol

by Bionic Man - 2010-02-24 11:02:44

Hi Nat36,
Sorry to hear you're having bad side effects. When I first started my sotalol I felt slightly lightheaded at times and very tired after taking my pill. Some days I just didn't have any energy. The strange thing is these symptoms went away after a couple of weeks so I'm not sure it the issues I had was with the sotalol or with my heart. I did have similar issues before taking the med. I'm taking 240mg a day and it has done wonders for me. I am fortunate that I don't have any side effects anymore. I know there are several similar meds on the market. Hopefully your Dr will find one that won't give you those horrible side effects. You shouldn't take a pill that gives you lousy side effects just because it helps another condition.
Hopefully your Dr will have some answers for you on Friday.
Good Luck,
Bob

feeling better today

by nat36 - 2010-02-25 12:02:44

Well I woke up without the awful headache this morning. So far it has not returned today. That is making me happy! Funny when you feel this bad how just a few hours of feeling better can raise your spirits! Hopefully my side effects are going away! That would be great since the medicine seems to be working for my heart. I will see if this lasts and what the doctor says tomorrow. It does not sound like my symptoms were the norm for this medicine from what ya'll have said but I guess medicines effect everyone differently. Thanks and I will post after I get more info from the doctor tomorrow!!

You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

Member Quotes

Yesterday was my first day mountain biking after my implant. I wiped out several times and everything is fine. There are sports after pacemakers!