Sotalol side effects

[HAB2]

I've had both SVT and AF ablation's. The SVT was from just after I had my first child and was severe. The ablation for that took and I was put on Verapemil (sp?) I had no further SVT and all was well. Then after 30 years I began 11 years of hell that brought me here: total gastrectomy; followed 3 years later by endometrial cancer which was successfully treated but the op damaged a big nerve in my groin affecting my walking and bladder functions. I was given co codamol and pregabalin. 3 years after that came the AF and eventually ablation as it was atypical and stopped and started with long periods of no problems. At that point they gave me Sotalol in place of Verapemil as my resting heart rate was about 100bpm. This did the trick and I got down to 60bpm Once again the world turned for 3 years... give or take a month or two and I developed Cat 3 empyema which affects the lungs. I had to have open chest surgery bad the resultant neuropathy there was severe. I was referred to a pain clinic and given morphine based drugs.

Now - you've guessed it - 3 years later, I've ended up in A&E with what I thought was anaphylaxis from the opioid's then after going through Dr oversight of what was basically cold turkey from my pain relief I find it was actually the Sotalol all along... sigh. I have been assured by the Drs that it is not an allergy but 'merely side effects'. Well I would call them very distressing side effects. My mouth, lips, and tongue crawl with ants constantly and painfully making eating almost impossible. I take a tablet and my pallet swells, throat feels tight on one side and the whole thing leaves me feeling afraid and generally unwell. The effects last from one tablet to the next with only a slight rebate between and I take 4 80mg tabs a day! Anyone else here have these problems, and have you found any way to mitigate the problem or has you medication been changed?

[jeanjeannie50]

You poor thing, that sounds awful! I've never heard of anything like this on our AF forum.

I hate tablets and really wonder if we'd be better off without taking any!!

Hope you can find some type of cure for this.

Jean

[cuore]

I am dumbfounded that you have such severe side effects from Sotalol and your doctors are continuing to have you take it. If it were me, I would not accept " merely side effects."

I would go back to these doctors and articulate that these side effects are not acceptable to you as your body is not tolerating this drug. When you say "doctors," are you referring to the emergency doctor and your GP? You might have better luck with an EP. You can ask to be put on a different drug or a combination of drugs as opposed to taking a high dosage of one drug. When researching drugs for my blood pressure I came across recent trials that detailed combo therapy was superior to mono-therapy. (I am not an MD so there is a disclaimer here.)

I find your AF timeline a little difficult to decipher. You were taking Verapamil pre-ablation, then post ablation placed on Sotalol which you have been taking for 6 years and which keeps your heart rate at 60bpm and which the first three years you did not suffer side effects ? So you have been suffering from these side effects for the last three years? Also, you do not say whether you had any episodes of AF post ablation? If you have had, then your EP might place you on a combination therapy. Mine placed me on Dilitazem and Flecinade.

Good luck to your having a drug review and placing you on a better path for your AF.

[Bigmark61]

After years on Sotalol my cardiologist told me that they could have caused me more harm than good, suggesting that it was the wrong medication then after a test I have discovered that I have heart failure.