Stop the sotalol

[sotolol]

After 12 years of Sotalol and episodes of PAF two cancelled cardiologist appointments one of which should of been tomorrow the doctor called this morning and said she had a letter from cardiologist saying stop the 240 sotalol and replace with 10 mg of Bisoprolol.

So for all you folk that said Sotalol was not used much for AF gave me the confidence to ask the cardiologist couple of weeks ago after a good few days of AF.

Also some of you said about cardiologists being ‘Up to date’ about Sotalol.

So thank you those that said the helpful comments. Hoping it works.

Cheers. J

[Snowdrops_17]

Hope that works out for you darling. See how you ho and give it some time to get used to the new medication! Well think that is progress 😁👌

Have you received your new medication Bisoprolol now or are you waiting for it still? Great news that. Glad you are getting somewhere with this now!! 😉😉😉

[sotolol in reply to Snowdrops_17]

Prescription ready. My daughter can get it thurs/Friday. As I’m locked up or down 🙄

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to sotolol]

Well you waited that long, sure Thursday or Friday gonna be soon there 🤣😂😁 just make yourself something to do and try not to think about it too much.. it be right darling 😁😁😁❤

[sotolol in reply to Snowdrops_17]

Yay. 😉

[Lilypocket]

Hi

So glad you are tring something different! Are you going to get a rhythm control drug too?

10 mg seems quite a large dose for starters but your doctor knows you best. Some people on here feel totally exhausted with half that dose.

xx

[sotolol in reply to Lilypocket]

I’ve just received a letter what must of been sent to my GP

hence the phone call and prescription waiting for me.

I take 80 mg of sotalol 3 times a day. That wears me out brain fog and tired. So maybe it may be sort of the same feeling. ?

In the letter she said about my appointments being cancelled because of Covid and when it’s over and she gets to see me in clinic we can discuss the next step which is probably an ablation. !

So at least it’s moving along ...

[sotolol in reply to Lilypocket]

I know that’s the part I read the most. 😧

[Lilypocket in reply to sotolol]

Well most of it is trial and error I suppose until we find something that works for us. I think Bisoprolol makes you feel tired and in my case a bit forgetful (I can trace that from when I started it) but my heart works better for the time being so it gets my vote! Are you now in permanent Afib?

xx

[sotolol in reply to Lilypocket]

I get the forgetful bit I get that I call it brain fog like my brain won’t tell me what I think I know but forgotten. Sotalol does it. Every time they up the dose it takes a few months to get used to it.

[Lilypocket in reply to sotolol]

Yes and 240 mg a day is quite a biggish dose. I was on 160 mg a day.

[sotolol in reply to Lilypocket]

Have you had an ablation ?

[Lilypocket in reply to sotolol]

No not yet. I have good QoL and am not in permanent Afib. I saw an EP once and he said " it's not a cure" so not sure there's any point for me. However I have also developed a little sinus node arythmia as well as PAfib which my cardiologist thinks is linked to the AFib. I am having an ultrasound next month to see if the atrium is enlarged. In which case I may have to have an ablation anyway!

[sotolol in reply to Lilypocket]

Yes I’ve seen BobD post it’s not a cure just QOL

So rock and a hard place.

Still I’ll try the new drugs and see how I get on. Thank you for answers. Helpful.

[Lilypocket in reply to sotolol]

Are you in permanent Afib? What other meds will you take with Bisoprolol- if any.

Yes the dilemma is what are risks of taking meds for the rest of our lives. I understand we have to anyway after an ablation. Also there are quite a discouraging amount of stories of people and their ablations that made their lives no better and sometimes worse. Bit of a Russian roulette! But of course later I may bitterly regret not having 1/2/3 ablations but it'll be too late.

[sotolol in reply to Lilypocket]

No not permanent PAF for 12 years. I had it before but didn’t know what it was.

I take Sotalol and it increases every time it gets worse. Dabigatran and 1.5 Bisoprolol since last week. As the doctor thought I wanted it. Letter from cardiologist said to the Gp “ it’s a reasonable suggestion” to change so now it’s stop sotalol and try Bisoprolol as that is what stops it in A+E then discuss ablation. I hear and read the horror stories on here. !

[sotolol]

No. I went in and out over three days. Last August September and November was in A+E and the doctor said I left it too long to come down. Yet I sat the last one out. Some say if uncomfortable to breathe come in. They were lovely. But since Covid I’ll sit it out I think. GP just rang wants an online appointment to discuss my heart ...?😑as cardiologist sent the letter. They always seem uninterested to talk about AF. 🙄

[Lilypocket in reply to sotolol]

Well my episodes were longer on Sotalol (12 to 14 hours) but more spaced apart. Since I changed meds they are a bit more frequent but short and the PVCs are unnoticeable ( they were a real hassle before). Are you in NSR now? When was your last episode?

[sotolol in reply to Lilypocket]

Yes NSR now. 68 hours over a few weeks ago. Last time

[Lilypocket in reply to sotolol]

That's long! Did you go back into sinus rhythm naturally or did you have to have a conversion in hospital?

[sotolol in reply to Lilypocket]

Was told to stay away so took an extra sotalol and magnesium and waited to explode as my rate and rhythm goes nuts. Frogs and kangaroo trying to get out and very dizzy. Longest I’ve had yet. My A + E is 12 minutes away. 😑

[sotolol in reply to sotolol]

So naturally.

[higgy52]

I take 20 mg of sotalol twice a day,

But i don't know any one who takes 10 mg of Bisoprolol a day seems a lot i would double check that . good luck

[sotolol in reply to higgy52]

I take 80 mg sotalol three times a day. Which is high also.

[malcolmwilliams in reply to higgy52]

I have been on 10 mg bidoprolol for 18 mths everything been ok

[malcolmwilliams in reply to malcolmwilliams]

Bisoprolol

[sotolol in reply to malcolmwilliams]

Thank you. 👍🏻

[sotolol in reply to higgy52]

Thank you

[Deb86290]

Hello everyone

I have a question. I take 80mg Sotalol twice a day. I had an episode of AFib two and a half years ago and had cardioversion which was successful. Have taken this drug ever since but never had another episode and have never seen my cardiologist since. Always tired and foggy. Should I be pushing for a review? Thanks for any guidance in advance.

[irene75359 in reply to Deb86290]

Why not do this as a post of your own, you should get more answers.

[sotolol in reply to irene75359]

I have done got lots of answers. Thank you for help 👍🏻

[Lilypocket in reply to sotolol]

Irene was replying to Deb86290 😊

[sotolol in reply to Lilypocket]

😑😉🤗🤗🙄

[sotolol in reply to irene75359]

Sorry you are right. I got carried away. Answering Deb86290 post.

[Albobaggins]

When I was first diagnosed they prescribed Sotalol and it was useless. Changed to Amiodarone until my first Ablation. Currently on Flecanide and Bisoprolol awaiting ablation number 4.

[sotolol in reply to Albobaggins]

Wow do they tell you why it’s failed ?

[Albobaggins in reply to sotolol]

They haven't a clue what the trigger is sadly, though it does flare up when I'm dehydrated. The next ablation will be extensive and if that fails a pacemaker will be the next step!

[Grinny]

I have just been taken off Sotalol and put on 5mg of Bisoprolol. I had years on Atenolol. Sotalol was an improvement, no personal difference on Bisoprolol. I was told it requires less monitoring.

[sotolol in reply to Grinny]

I’ve never been monitored. Only in A and E 🙄

[Hanibal]

Hi,

I came off Sotalol a couple of weeks ago (stopped working for me...) and onto Flecainide plus Bisoprolol. This combination seems to have settled the rhythm and HR very well and I haven't had an event for 20 days now (fingers crossed!).

What I have learnt, tho, is that keeping HR & BP records to track things is very valuable when discussing the condition with my GP.

Good luck and be a pest if you need answers!

Mike

[sotolol in reply to Hanibal]

Very helpful I will do that.

[Lilypocket in reply to Hanibal]

Hi Mike

I also was changed from Sotalol to Flecainide and Bisoprolol. With Sotalol I was having a couple of episodes of 8-14 hrs a month. And a lot of PVCs - really annoying. Since changing meds last June I have more episodes but much shorter ( the longest was nearly 6 hours but mostly they last a few minutes or even seconds). The PVCs stopped. I wouldn't be very interested to know how things go for you. Will you post to give updates?

Take care x

[Lilypocket in reply to Lilypocket]

Blooming keyboards lol :I WOULD be very interested....

[Hanibal in reply to Lilypocket]

Yes, I will.

latest twist is that the Bisoprolol might have been too strong @ 5mg per day resulting in a low BPM on the average scale and from today its been dropped to 3.75mg per day.

Still, my 20th day (so far!) without any episodes so I'm not complaining....

[Lilypocket in reply to Hanibal]

I'm on 3.75 too and slow release Flecainide ( I take one dose of 200 when I get up) which lasts 24 hrs

[Octaviascout]

There seem to be numerous cocktails out there, all down to the preferred drug of the cardiologist. I have been in PAF since diagnosed last June. I was on 10mg of Bisoprolol for 6 months, I always felt that I was carrying a sack of coal on my back when taking walks + mood swings, wasn’t aware of this until I came of it. On the advice of my EP I switched to Verapamil at Xmas, gradually increasing the dose to 360mg. Took a month to adapt to the new drug but thus far have been fine on it, plenty of energy and a better frame of mind. Have to keep an eye on my BP which has always been normal, now a healthy 110/70. Verapamil is primarily a BP reducing drug but has the side effect of reducing the HR.

[sotolol in reply to Octaviascout]

That’s interesting noted. Thank you.

[ralft]

About 3 weeks ago, I went from 80 mg Sotalol AF twice a day to 120 mg twice a day. AF means it is designed to control heart rate as well as rhythm. Before the increase I was having episodes that lasted as long as 6 hours. Now they are gone but I think I am a bit less stable on my feet and worry a little about falling.

Several years ago I was taken off of Sotalol AF because it was no longer working after 6 or more years. Then I had an ablation and was free of episodes for about 3 years. Then amiodorone and metoprolol until I got a pacemaker and was put back on Sotalol.

[sotolol in reply to ralft]

Wow what a merry go round. Are you better now ? Not so many or have they stopped. ??

[ralft]

Much better and thanks for asking. But am now concerned that my BP seems to somewhat dangerously follow rises in heart rate almost every nite at bedtime. I posted about it a couple days ago and there was only 1 reply saying he has similar experience. Google says that BP and heart rate should move in opposite directions.

[sotolol in reply to ralft]

I have seen as I didn’t know that there is Sotalol AF and just Sotalol which one are you on or have I got that wrong ??

[ralft in reply to sotolol]

I think Sotalol AF is also called Sotalol HCL and they should control heart rate and also rhythm. Sotalol without a suffix lowers the heart rate. I am unsure if they control BP

[4EvrVT]

I have been on sotolol for nearly 4 years now for a single incident of AF as well as BP medicine (never had high BP before) and xarelto. I also take an anti-anxiety med and thyroid and lipitor generic...now, that said, I can ID the exact moment I went into AF and why and feel it was an isolated incident. I wore a monitor 2x with no issues except for one "blip" when I pulled one of the leads off. I can't really get a 2nd opinion as there is pretty much "one show" in town here. Anybody else feel they are over-medicated?