HELP-fast

I am to go into hospital on 4/02 to begin either sotolol or tikosyn. I have had a idc for many years for v-fib Now cardo wants me to start one of these meds. I had not had any shocks for 8 years but had one in nov. 06 and one 2 weeks ago. I am so tired each day and if I have to take any more meds that slow me down I will look like a female Budda Hope someone is awake out there. I live in rural area and have never had anyone to talk to about having icd. I DON'T WANT TO GET SHOCKED AGAIN WHILE TRYING OUT THE NEW MED. anyone take either of these? Thank you for any help
Dixie from Mo.


6 Comments

sotalol

by thomast - 2007-04-01 08:04:31

I was on Sotalol for 4 months and was sick as a dog. Lost 40 lbs. Changed to Tikosyn and have been on it for about 2 years, and it ft does fine. Everybody is differant though. Got zapped twice in the summer of 05 while on Tikosyn. both time they made changes to my PM and have not been zapped since.

Thanks for responding

by mo-dixie - 2007-04-02 12:04:11

I have read all the info on both drugs but wanted to hear from a live soul to know how it effects your body and ICD. I have had this sucker since 1994 when I suffered SCD while at work. Mine is implanted in my belly. I was the 4th person to have one implanted at the University of Missouri hospital.
I took Cordarone for about 8 years but had to stop because of eye damage 2 years ago.

I have to stay in the hospital for 48 hours then hope to continue my life---with out any "shocking events"

Thanks for the help!!!!!
Dixie from Mo

sotalol

by Vai - 2007-04-02 12:04:43

As siad, the anti-arrythmic drugs help to pace & control your heart rate. The dosage does matter and it is an important factor which you will have to work out on trial and error with the doctor.

I have persistent afib and sotalol was the drug of choice by the doctor. He thinks sotalol is more friendly (less toxicity and less side effects) while tykosyn should be a last resort alternative for me. I am no expert on these drugs but if you like to know more, you can reserch the side effects and contraindications of these drugs off the internet.

I find it helps to use the drug on regular intervals (same time of day or night) as prescribed and also keeping a written log of time of drug and describing an incident, experience of the sort that makes you uncomfortable.

In my case, sotalol slow my heart rate and avoids the really debilitating afibs. The pacemaker implanted keeps my minumum heart rate at 60 bpms to maintain normal life. I don't know if your icd works the same.

Best of luck

Well, the sotalol didn't work

by mo-dixie - 2007-04-23 02:04:41

Friends, I started on the sotolol on april 2 and nothing seemed to change much until April 15th when my heart slipped into it's own crazy rythum. When I was a little kid we raised black mini poodles and shipped them to New York on planes from KC, Mo. We kept them in a cardboard box until we got to the airport and got a shipping crate. My job was to keep them in the box during the two hour drive to the airport. I faced the same challenge-I would just get the heart to stop flopping and then another wild run would go over the edge, running through the car panting.. By Thursday, I gave up and called the cardiologist. Much to my surprize, they said Well, you stop taking the sotolol and take nothing else and we will see you in 10 days.
My puppy's running have stopped so I guess I need nothing at all to correct the V. Fib. runs. YYIPPEEE I'm free or am I ?????? Scared and taking the whole household with me. Dixie from Mo

14 year old son has an ICD

by Anita - 2008-05-06 04:05:22

Thank you so much for your support. Alot of people say they know what he is going through, but unless you have walked in his shoes there is know way. Its sounds like you have walked many miles. Everything you said was so true. He is doing so much better, but still has flare ups of anziety. When he first had the ICD storm, he wanted me to watch him sleep. He was to scared to close his eyes. He gets nervous and he starts checking his heart rate. It just heart breaking seeing him so scared all the time. He has came along way, but I don't know that you ever get very comfortable with the situation. We are traveling from Nashville to the Mayo in Rochester MN. It has been the best thing we have done so far. The Mayo was our 3rd opiniun and they thing they have fixed his tachycardia. Even with the doctors saying everything looks great, we still live with fear everyday. Thank you so much and I will be thinking of you .... Anita

14 year old son has an ICD

by Anita - 2008-05-06 04:05:47

I forgot to mention he also takes 120 mg of sotalol twice daily. He has done very well on it with no side effects.He is not very active , because he is scared of being shocked. I don't know how well it would work if he became active..... thanks anita

You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

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