We keeping seeing on this site that Sotalol is not prescribed/recommended in the UK for PAF/AF. I also keep finding more and more people in the UK taking it so, go on, let's see how many of us there are .....
Comment if you are in UK and taking Sotalol.
I don't take it now, but it was prescribed for me just under two years ago by my EP. He said it was particularly good for the atrial flutter I had. Unfortunately it didn't stop it for me, so I went back on Flecainide.
Jean
I’m in Australia and taking it (120mg x twice a day). I’d like to know why it’s not used so much in the UK (I can’t open the link - it says ‘forbidden’). I have previously been on Verapamil and Flecainide.
I seem to remember that it was removed from the recommended list in the UK because of its ability at higher doses to cause ventricular arrhythmias. I took it for 4 days and on the fifth day developed very fast tachycardia which was nauseating and scary.
PS - I should have written recommended list FOR AF in the UK.
NICE guidelines for AF management:
nice.org.uk/guidance/cg180/...
Two paragraphs 1.6.2 and 1.6.11 exclude Sotalol specifically. In the 2014 draft when NICE withdrew recommendation for Sotalol in the management of AF, there was a paragraph (1.6.13) referring to the 'potential risks of Sotalol at doses that are therapeutic for a Class III effect, especially for people with renal impairment or low body weight'.
I had an instinctive NO reaction to it when suggested to me - before I read up on it - then met the specialist who helped to get it removed from the NICE recommendations so I’ve never taken it - nor will I ever.
He said it was a dangerous drug to take for exactly the reasons outlined by Finvola - he had had patients die and was adamant it should not be prescribed for people with lone AF but that there might be a case for using it for people with more complicated Arrythmias under cardiology supervision. I asked if I could quote and he agreed.
Fascinating really how things have moved on.
My problem has always been Lone Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. When I was first diagnosed I was prescribed Sotalol.
I really didn’t get on well with it and ultimately the doctors moved me to Flecainide together with Bisoprolol.
Pete
nhs.uk/conditions/atrial-fi...
This nhs link specifically mentions Sotalol for AF
Mmm...you will find a lot of contradictory information because medical opinion differs. Sotolol is partly a beta blocker and partly a rhythm control drug but because it affects the ventricles, not only the atria, NICE do not recommend for Lone AF but we know a lot of doctors like to prescribe it precisely because of the dual efficacy.
I was put on 2 x 80mg after being admitted to A&E 2 years ago nearly, by the EP consultant, for AF. I then had check up some 3 months later following a 24 hour heart monitor and echogram of the heart. EP discharged me to GP and I am still on same dose. AF episodes have progressively got shorter and less frequent.
I was first presribed 80mg 9am 2pm and 9pm and was AF free for 18 months then Cardiolagist changed it to 120mg 9am 120mg 9 pm and since had 5 episodes this year.
I took it for a year in the 80's and it didn't keep the AF at bay that much so not a lot of good
I live in the uk have been taking Sotalol for 5 years 80mg morning and evening I see cardiologist every 3 months for checkup and ecg always in sinus rhythm I was diagnosed with paroxial atrial fibrillation and heart attack 5 years ago and 1 stent implanted
I was prescribed it about 3 months ago by letter from cardiologist after a bad attack of AF in resus but after I'd read up on it and the unpleasant side effects I took myself off it I am in the UK.
I've been taking it for almost two years since I was first diagnosed
I took it for 2 years at a high dose it worked very well the first year but the second year, according to my Cardiologist, it began widening the beat gap in my heart and also I had 3 episodes quite close together. Apparently it is known to do this so he took me off it and started me on bisoprolol. I also had the most horrendous nightmares with it.
Hi I have to start it on Monday ???? Not looking forward to it though !
Hi! Would like to know your experience on the med since. How have you been? Hope it has helped in improving your condition.
Yes have it for atrial tachycardia ,have giddy and light headed for an hour or two but nowhere as bad as amoidarone
I have taken Sotalol for 18 years, 80mg twice a day. No side effects. Still have P AF though, and have had five ablations for it. Don't know how much Sotalol helps to control it. Can't take Flec. as it made the AF worse.
I took it for several years, but after reading about problems I asked my gp to take me off it. Since stopping it a couple of years ago there has been no change in the frequency or length of my afib episodes. It was not replaced with a different medication. The only thing I take now for my afib is warfarin.
Two years ago, I was part of the (nationwide) AVATAR trial and visited the cardiology department at Hammersmith Hospital for them to decide the best course of treatment. The consultant there offered me Sotalol and seemed totally bemused, as did the arrhythmia nurse, when I said it was no longer recommended by NICE. Apparently many of the patients attending their clinic take Sotalol. I still refused.
After a diagnosis of atrial flutter and a bad experience with Amariodarone I have been taking Sotalol at 80mg twice daily for some two years with no apparent side effects, so in my case it has definitely be worthwhile.
Hi I was on Satolol 80mg twice a day for four days but took myself off it on the fifth day due to the side effects (suddenly felt very sick light headed while out shopping on the fourth day and on the fifth day felt worse). Was then prescribed Flecainide 50mg twice a day and have been on this for three months now and have no side effects. Pam 🇬🇧
I've been on sotalol 2×80 mg for 4 months now for avnrt and paf. I don't think I have anything else wrong with my heart. I had many side effects in the beginning but gradually they got better. It's not that great with my condition either and it's seems to raise my blood pressure and still get a few ectopic beats. A few days ago I had my appointment with the cardio at the nhs hospital and he said I should try further it till my next appointment in....3-4 months. He also said I have 3 choices. Sotalol, flecainide with atenolol and ablation. I'm not really happy with this medication and he also offered me no anticoagulation because I'm 52 and taking 20 mg atorvastatin for cholesterol which does brings It down. I would like to go private if possible but just don't know how to go about it.
Yes, Sotalol 8 years, no problems. Before that one dose of Flecainide, off to CCU with fast atrial flutter.
Bizarrely Sotalol seems to be contraindicated with my type of heart block.
I wonder if it is the older generation of cardiologists who are more inclined to use Sotalol.
Been taking it for around 15yrs sotalol (40)mg never been offered any other alternative.originally my meds was coupled with Asprin.stopped taking that last year 2017.My AF started up again around 6 months ago.After reading some of the comments. Im booking an appointment to see my consultant.To see if theirs any alternative, not seen him in all this time I even believe he has gone private ..just been taking the tablets and feeling totally drained most of the time.
I was on Amerodion to bring down my af but specialists at Stoke Cardiology do not like it due the the long term serious side effects. So have been on Sotalol for two months now. Only noticeable side effect is my legs ache more than they did at times. Arrithmia nurse tells me it’s a common side effect so can live with that to keep af at bay.
Yep. On sotalol for nearly ten years.No probs but dose just increased to 200mg per day.
Have been on Sotalol for 4 months now. Struggled with 80 mg twice per as prescribed by cardiology at Stoke. So have reduced ti 80mg at night and 40mg in morning which has helped with the tiredness and feeling weird. But still have weird dreams. Thing all these beta blockers has some side effects. I was on Atenolol for few years but stopped working for me. Plus cardiology said not reccomended for A/F nowadays ??
New Regimen of Sotalol
Alternate days of AF.... sotalol & exhaustion 
Do you take these drugs.?
