I've been on Flecainide and Bisoprolol for seven years .
I have had some dizzy spells in the last two weeks and yesterday I was taken to hospital with a high heart rate (125) and they found a blood infection, for which they've prescribed antibiotics.
But they've also replaced the Flecainide and Bisoprolol with Sotalol. What difference will this make?
Interesting thing to do as Sotalol has a mixed profile. It has both anti- arrythimic and rate control functions but fell from popular use a few years ago. Maybe old school cardiologist saw you. I would discuss with your usual specialist when you can if you do not get on with it.
Bob, my EP is young and he preferred me to be on Sotalol to Flecainide. Unfortunately, it didn't suit me so had to go back on Flec, but he said try and reduce my dose from 100mg twice daily. It made me think he knew Flec wasn't good. I did manage to get it down to 50mg. Now a cardiologist after looking at my ECG has said to stop my Flec as causing problems. I think you'll find that Sotalol is still used fairly regularly.
Me too. I was changed from flecanide to a high dose of sotalol when flec started to cause me problems. Sotalol was actually a better drug for me as caused less problems and side effects. X
I have taken Sotolol for about 3 years and am on the max dose now. I’ve had no problems except like you a faster heart, irregulsr rhythms & and few dizzy spells the last few weeks. During this timeI was going through very high levels of stress. Things hopefully settled down yesterday to NSR & no dizziness after stress abated. ( I’m hoping this is the answer). In my opinion it’s worth a try.
In the US, where prescription figures can be more easily found, sotalol remains a popular treatment for heart arrhythmias in a similar range of prescriptions to flecainide. The two drugs have some different mechanisms of action so sometimes one is likely to be considered more suitable depending upon the specific characteristics of your heart.
rbht.nhs.uk/our-services/at...
Steve
Sotalol is certainly making a comeback, it is listed on a lot of sites, including NHS & NICE as a drug to use for rate/rhythm control. It seems to be my (young) EP's first choice where bisoprolol is not working.
My EP went ballistic when he found out that an A+E cardiologist had replaced bisoprolol with sotalol.
I have been put on Sotalol a year and half ago by my young EP, 80mg twice a day. I am pretty much as physically active as before. At the beginning I had blurry vision but it disappeared as I got used to the medication The only side effect for me is cold fingers in the winter.
I've been on Sotalol 80mg twice a day for several years now with no problems, after a bad experience with Amiodarone. I t has kept me in normal sinus rhythm after a cardioversion with a heart rate around 60.
Thanks for sharing.
My cardiologist has offered the same, a cardioversion followed by sotalol.
Were you previously in paroxysmal or persistent AFib ?
Sorry, I dont recognise the word 'paroxysmal', so it must have been the other one (persistent)
I was on max dose of flecainide and bisoprolol, for AF which did very little. Changed to Sotalol 120 mg twice a day and was in sinus rhythm overnight.
And still am 6 months later.
Although it was originally thought to be paroxysmal AF just before the cardioversion it had been decided that it was in fact atrial flutter.
I've been on sotalol for nearly 4 years now, no issues except cold fingers and toes. It suits me much better than bisoprolol, much less fatigue. I can do normal things like a long walk and a bike ride on the same day. 8 couldn't have done that on bisoprolol.
Flecainide without Bisoprolol
Reducing to stop Flecainide and Bisoprolol 
FLECAINIDE AND BISOPROLOL COMBO 
Bisoprolol or Flecainide?
Flecainide and Bisoprolol - contre indicated?
