I am on Solatol. Side effects are frightening..Is anyone out there on this? HELP ME PLEASE.

I have A Fib...Also sleep Apnea and heart disease...I had a Stent implant 2 years ago..Many chest pains..I was told to ignore the chest pains....

[BobD Volunteer]

Your post doesn't tell us what side effects. It is often hard to tell what are side effects of medication and what are the result of the AF increasing and becoming more persistent.

Bob

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

weakness, lightheadedness, legs and arms painful when I move.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

shortwinded, hoursness, neauseated, weakness, chest pain, foggy feeling. i just feel absolutely terrible. they tell me not to worry about the chest pain. my legs and my arms hurt.sometimes it is difficult to even think. I just feel confused. I don't know what else I can tell you. I wish someone could just please help me.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

I woke up and I just feel terribly week like my whole body is weak my blood sugar is OK blood pressures okay I drink something sweet I ate something sweet but maybe I was just hungry but it still doesn't go away I just feel like my body is weak all over and I don't feel overly anxious or nervous or anything what would cause this?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

If you are in AF the normal flow of blood round your body is usually reduced so many people suffer weakness and exhaustion.during attacks. Have you been taught how to take your pulse? If you feel it and it is irregular then you are in AF. fast and regular is a different arrhythmia but AF is an irregular beat.

Bob

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

I was not in A fib....i just was so weak and this morning I had a problem taking a deep breath...It is so scarey Bob...What is it?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

I'm not a doctor so can't really comment but I do feel that you are probably suffering form drug side effects as well as anxiety in addition to the AF. I really think you should go and see your doctor and explain how bad you are feeling as he may be able to suggest a change of drugs or dose.

Bob

[jennydog]

I was taken off Soltolol. My GP said it caused my heart to "rest between beats." the letter /report that the EP sent to my Cardiologist stated that "it prolonged the QT interval." I have been trialled on 4 different beta blockers and none are effective. I am now facing ablation or pace and ablate.

I think you need to seek further medical help. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to jennydog]

I feel weak and I just feel like I'm just already down. No energy. chest pains and sometimes I feel like I can't get enough air. Thank you and God bless.

[Christo4]

Heavenley.

The only help I could give you is to go and see your GP talk with him or her say you are afraid of these side effects, find out what other meds you could take I'm sure in time you will soon be feeling better.

Hope you soon get the help you need.

Christo

[Hidden in reply to Christo4]

thank you for your help and I wish you the best

[kakapo]

Sotalol made my AF much worse and also gave me SVT . I persevered for over a month including six days in hospital. Rhythm control is preferable if you can find a drug that works but I have found rate control to have far less side-effects for me anyway. I know its controversial but magnesium supplements did help my AF and also helped control the side-effects of the sotalol. I tried magnesium in desperation as I was so bad I was considering calling an ambulance. Within two hours I was back in rhythm and had no further attacks for two weeks as opposed to several attacks a day. Unfortunately the side-effects did come back and I had to stop using sotalol which was no hardship as it wasn't working anyway.

if it is working for you it might be worth persevering but if it is making everything worse then I just don't see any point in continuing and it is time to try something else.

[Hidden in reply to kakapo]

I have weakness, my whole body feels stiff I'm just worn out. I feel foggy a time. And in the night time I feel like I can't get enough air sometimes during the day I'm feel like my breathing is difficult. Just absolutely worn out. Thank you and God bless.

[shadski]

I was recently put on a very low dose of Solatol. I had t o have EKGs every 3 days for 2 weeks to check a particular part of my heart rhythm. I was told once you are on it you don't develop this abnormality. don't know if that helps.

[Hidden in reply to shadski]

I feel very weak and sometimes I feel like I don't get enough air. I get nausea. My legs in arms as my whole body just feels like it's taking a beating. I'm just literally worn out. Thank you and God bless

[jeanjeannie50]

How on earth can anyone with AF and a stent be told to ignore chest pains!!! If its your regular GP that tells you to ignore these I would go and see another one. You need help by a professional. If you feel that your chest pain is really bad call an ambulance. Also you could always take yourself off to A+E re the chest pain. It sounds like the Sotolol doesn't suit you. I used to take Sotolol but it made me feel 'spaced out' so stopped. Do you have a machine to test your blood pressure? If no I would get one, so that you can see if the Sotolol is taking it down too low.

Big hug. We are all on your side. You must fight your corner to get the medication that will suit you. Please don't just put up with it.

[Hidden]

thank you for your reply. I just feel like I get weaker. Someone mentioned that the food we eat has a lot to do with AF? Have you had this problem with the food that you eat? And then I noticed that there is so many side effects with other medications and also with food. I appreciate any help that I can get. I am on a monitor for the heart. Its a 30 day monitor. Sometimes I wake up in the night and I feel like I can't take a deep breath. There are so many scary symptoms.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

Hi - Yes certain foods do affect my AF. The main one is artificial sweeteners or additives of any kind. If I were you I would try any of the things recommended on this forum that help others.

Now here's a secret I haven't told many people - I know what you mean by the breathing and not feeling as though you are getting enough air into your lungs, but I must confess I only get it now when I think about it! I hadn't had that feeling for quite a while, but when I read that you had experienced that too I started to feel it come on. Now I'm not suggesting that you bring yours on by thinking about it, but I'm just letting you know that I can. I also remember, before being diagnosed with AF, driving home from work and thinking I can't get air into my lungs. Now, I can't think that I brought that on myself, but who knows! I believe it is a common side effect of AF. Another thing I find easy to do is make my blood pressure go sky high when I'm stressed. I'm one of those people that if a burglar broke in one night, well I'd die of fright (would really be high blood pressure)! My daughter on the other hand makes her BP go down when she's stressed and usually passes out. Oh the power of the mind!

I really feel for you, so many of us on this forum understand exactly what you are experiencing. AF is quite frightening at first, but the longer you have it the more you realise it's very unlikely to kill you. You only have to read on here how many people have had it for such a long time. Think I was diagnosed with it about 7 years ago, but I'm sure I've had it most of my adult life. What type of AF do you have and for how long?

[BobD Volunteer]

Beta blocklers are not good for anybody with a tendency for asthma which it sounds as if you may have. Sotalol is a duel purpose drug in that it has both rhythm control and rate control aspects but as has been said it is not suitable for all people/. The weakness and triredness may well be due to AF as in fact could the breathing problems but as has been mentioned do see your doctor and if you are not already under at least a cardiologist and preferably an electrophysiologist ask to see on. NO DEMAND to see one! GPs are not really qualified to treat AF and yours sounds less than helpful so maybe you should look elsewhere if you can't get the proper support.

Bob

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

I am going to a scardiologist. I heard when you start on solatol that you should be in a hospital and monitored..Same when coming off of it...My doctor just prescribed it for me and I started taking it...He thinks all my symptoms are anxiety..I do not think so...i am on pradaxa....famotidine...lorezapam...pravastatin...vitamin D...asperin...sotolol...vitamin C...and ferrouscGluc.

[CDreamer]

Hi Heavenly

I have nothing much to add, except sympathise, AFib does leave feeling as if you can't fill your lungs and that is the bodies response to not receiving enough oxygenated blood. I also used to muscle pain when I did too much, walking uphill etc. I agree with everything that has been said above, my husband was prescribed Sotolol without consultation but is refusing to take it since we attended an AFA patients day and met a leading UK Electro physiologist who advised us never to take it, he thought it unsuitable, at best, for AFibbers.

May I ask you if you are in the US, you used the term MD? A GP stands for general practitioner, the local family doctor, just in case you didn't get that.

If so do you have health insurance?

I would remind all the UK users that US system is very different to ours.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

yes I have insurance. I live in the US. We call our doctors MD for medical doctors. I do go to a specialist called a cardiologist. I just feel so sick that I do not know what to do. Thank you so much for your reply

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

A general cardiologist is not a specialist for AFib, as Bob sometimes says, you wouldn't employ a plumber to wire your electrics so unless he is an Electrophysiologist (EP), I would respectfully suggest you ask to see one.

If you do some research you should be able to find one near you who your cardiologist can refer you to. AFib is a horrible condition and feels very scary, especially at first, but there are good treatments and drugs which can help enormously but it sometimes takes a little time to find the right drugs and the right advice for you.

We are all here to help you. Xx

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you so much...one time when I had an aFibattack, they could not get it stabilized so I was taken by ambulance and they finally got it stabilized. I just get so frightened when it happens. I am happy you are all there for me. God bless you my friend

[kakapo]

Is your pulse rate to low.

[mumknowsbest Volunteer]

Soltalol made me feel dreadful, much as you described I would ask your GP if you can change medications. I also don't know why you have been told to ignore the chest pain as usually that is the one thing they tell you to see your dr or a/e with. Are you on any statins as they can sometimes cause muscle aches and pains?

As the others have suggested I would try and see the Gp and have a chat about the various meds and see what else they can come up with.

regards

Eileen

[Hidden in reply to mumknowsbest]

I am on to blood thinners a day.

[Hidden]

when I had my stint put in because of a blockage, I flat lined. So they put me on some medication and I was taking 19 pills A day. they have lowered my dosage some now. My legs hurt so bad. I wonder if that is from the blood thinners I'm on.

[Buffafly]

Dear Heavenly,

I am sure your meds don't suit you, but I have another idea......I wonder if you are hyperventilating? When I first had PAF I used to get very breathless when I lay down and it made me feel panicky. As I have asthma the doc was convinced I was having asthma attacks so he upped my meds - bad idea. Then it was stress - well of course you feel stressed if your heart is struggling! But I have found that a special kind of breathing that is used with asthma works well. When you feel breathless it is natural to take deep breaths, more and more, then deeper because it does not seem to help. But you are not breathing OUT enough because you need so much to get air IN. So what you need to do is give a quick hard blow out before you breathe in again and gradually you should feel better. The rhythm helps to calm your body too.

Big hug, hope you feel better soon

[Ang3lc4ts]

Dear Heavenly,

You poor soul, I know exactly what you mean, I was put on Sotalol but not for long as it gave me all the symptoms you describe. I agree with all the posts on this, demand to see an EP, they are the only ones qualified to deal with AFibbers. Good luck, my friend, and stay strong, may the angels stay by your side.

Angel blessings

Ang3lc4ts

[Hidden in reply to Ang3lc4ts]

is blood pressure is 150 over 80 over 92 is that too high?

[timbo52]

Dear Heavenly.

I have A-Fib And Sleep Apnea I am on 200mg Flecinide, 5mg Bisoprolol, The symptoms you describe are exactly how

I Was Feeling before i was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I was told by the sleep clinic that thay are all common symtoms of sleep apnea. I am using a CPAP machine as much as posible but don't get on with it very well. I have now been put 20mg of citalopram for depression. I fell a bit better than i did but don't know if how i feel now is original symptoms or side affects of medication. But i do sympathize with you and know how you feel.

Good luck for the future

Timbo52

[Hidden in reply to timbo52]

I woke up this morning and my head feels like pins and needles going through it. Have you ever had that feeling just like you've got a congestion head or something,

[timbo52]

Yes i get that a lot my eyes get very tired like i have been reading for hours, and i feel like i have a headache but not very painfull

[Maitha]

Hi dear

I'm on sotalol since six months now , I'm having headaches , fatigue , legs weakness , lightheaded and short of breath but I didn't link it to sotalol till you mentioned that

I'm suffering from short breath , chest tightness continuously , nothing shown wrong through holter monitor , I'm just guessing about other reasons which maybe stress which most of us suffering from .

I was having worse side effects when I started sotalol with higher dose , but I reduced it to 40 by 40 later and symptoms become less but noticed my pulse is dropping in 54 sometimes !

I heard that this medication is not recommended for long term that is why I'm having ablation soon

I'm loosing my hair badly recently not sure that it is from sotalol also , maybe from stress due to my health issues , or others !

I recommend to Discuss with your doctor about reducing the dose if possible , and what about having anti anxiety medication and watch if you may got better

Regards

[Hidden]

has anyone ever woke up short winded like you can't catch your breath. I don't know what that's from its very frightening.

[CDreamer]

Hi Heavenly - poor you. Yes I had this symptom, really only once but it really scared me too. My husband called an ambulance because although he has riden out many episodes with me, especially at night, he said he had never seen me like that before. I was taken to the ER where they monitored me but discharged me after a few hours.

The paramedics told me that you need to be sitting up, well supported with pillows if you have this reaction, I was clammy and catching my breath. After about 15-30 mins of sitting up it started to feel much better.

I know it is very scary but the important thing is to monitor your pulse for rate and regularity. If it is very high, I would ring for help. Is there anyone else in the house with you at night?

Oh Heavenly - this thread is getting a wee bit long, may I suggest if you have another post or question you start a new thread.

[Hidden]

I just found out that when I had a blockage in my heart that it was a Widow Maker.....They then put in a stent...