Sotalol AF

[Paperboy]

I have read on a US web site that Sotalol AF is specifically for people with AF and is not interchangeable with Sotalol. Does anyone know why Sotalol AF is not available in the UK?

[Gertsen]

Interesting will ask my doctor

[Yalwen]

I was on Sotalol in 2010. Couldn't get along with it so was taken off it. It seemed to be readily available then, I wonder if something has happened for it to be made unavailable.

[Paperboy in reply to Yalwen]

Sotalol is still available in the uk which is currently the medication I am taking. I found out via a link on the AFA web site that Sotalol AF is prescribed in the USA specifically for people with atrial fibrillation and it further stated Sotalol and Sotalol AF were not interchangeable. This prompted me to ask my pharmacist about Sotalol AF, on checking she said Sotalol AF was not listed, and she thought they were probably the same. Having read they were not the same I thought this was not enough information, hence my trying to find out more. Even the named supplier on the box appears not to be able throw any light on the issue. My daughter who is a medical professional tells me formulation can vary from country to country. It is frustrating not to be able to get further and still leaves me wondering if Sotalol AF is a better medication for AF.

[rc-k in reply to Paperboy]

From a Google search, it appears that it is the same preparation but the US patient information leaflet is specific to atrial fibrillation.

[Paperboy in reply to rc-k]

Thank you for looking into the issue, it still leaves me wondering why they are saying Sotalol AF is for people with AFib and is not interchangeable with Sotalol which is also used in the US, it suggests they must be different. That said rxlist.com states under warnings and precautions for Sotalol : Do not substitute Sotalol for Sotalol AF because of significant differences in labelling (patient package insert, dosing administration, safety information) meaning I suppose they are the same but used in different ways. But

Medlineplus.gov state under important warning , Betapace (brand name for Sotalol) and Betapace AF are used for different types of irregular heartbeats and should not be used interchangeably. Make sure your doctor knows which product you have been taking.

.

[EngMac in reply to Paperboy]

A long time ago, was explained on the site. If you search, you will find lots of posts on Sotalol. I was prescribed Sotalol without the cardiologist specifying which one. One is for the top part of the heart and one is for the bottom and they are not to be interchanged. In Canada, none of three pharmacists I asked knew that there are two kinds. Only one looked it up in her drug reference source and she verified what I told her. BetaSpace A and Beta Space B, they are called in some countries. You are supposed to be in the hospital for three days when you first take Sotalol in case you flat line. This was not recommended by my doctor. Well the hospital not the flat line. My family doctor told me this is not usually done because it is too expensive and they only lose the odd patient. I have a left bundle block which lengthens the QRTS interval on the EKG. Beta blockers can lengthen it further. Tried these once. Did not like the resulting intensive care experience as a result. You have to be your own advocate with medication. My experience is doctors don't always know or consider you specifically. After I checked and asked my cardiologist about the two kinds, he mumbled something but probably did not know. He said the dose prescribed was small so I "should" be ok. I did not want to be the possible "odd patient" so I did not take it.

[Paperboy in reply to EngMac]

Many thanks for your story and information it certainly resonates with some aspects of my experience. My cardiologist had no knowledge of Sotalol AF which is a bit concerning. It all seems to be a bit of a British approach.

[rc-k]

accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatf...

Sotalol is also indicated for the maintenance of

normal sinus rhythm [delay in time to recurrence of atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter

(AFIB/AFL)] in patients with symptomatic AFIB/AFL who are currently in sinus rhythm

and is marketed under the brand name Betapace AF. Betapace is not approved for the

AFIB/AFL indication and should not be substituted for Betapace AF because only

Betapace AF is distributed with a patient package insert that is appropriate for patients

with AFIB/AFL.