I just started Sotalol yesterday, and reading the side effects list, I have been diligent to make sure I am drinking lots of water. I still have a very dry mouth and headache all last night. Will I adjust after taking it a little while, or do I need even more water? I also already struggle with constipation at times, does this mean I need to be even more concerned about eating more fiber now too? Please share your experiences! Thank you.
Good news is, I got a tiny bit dizzy from first doses, but it being NYE I had some foods I normally avoid and didn’t even have any ectopics. I still avoided alcohol as I have for quite a few years now, but the foods alone would have set up ectopics at least normally. So some positive signs this may work out.
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ChasMartin
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I'm on the max dose of Sotalol and haven't experienced the problems you mention - it's likely others have though. One thing I will say is thats it good idea to stay well hydrated with afib so try to keep sipping water thoughout your day.
Aye, I've been into staying hydrated for quite some time now as it has helped my AF immensely. Seems I'll need to drink even more now though. Also been drinking a large glass of coconut water in addition to get the extra potassium every day, which I notice when I skip it for sure!
Hi Chas. I am on 160mgs of Sotalol twice a day and have been on Sotalol for 16 years (diiferent doses). I drink heaps of water and make sure I remain well hydrated, if I don’t stay hydrated I end up with a headache and/or AF.
My personal experience of Sotalol (since 1995 at 80mg a day, two 40mg doses) is that it was extremely unpleasant at the start but once you are acclimatised to it there are no problems. Far from being constipated I have the opposite problem but I do eat a whole food diet and a little bran each day plus lots of green veggies. The only problem is that it 'slows you down' a bit but that is part of the point, and I went in the 1990s from someone who was always on edge and who was consumed with nerves to being a frequent public speaker in large meetings without any real worries or nerves. It has been effective in keeping my AF under control for 25 years though the AF is permanent. It is not a perfect drug but that are many worse and although I have been told it is 'not now recommended' and recommended Nebivolol as an alternative, I know Sotalol works for me and don't want to risk an unknown medication.
I think you should have confidence in taking Sotalol which is now a well proven drug and with decades of experience of use without harmful effects in most people.
Currently 72 after a 40 minute dog walk and tinkering in the workshop since I got back. Sotalol makes it quite slow in the morning around 55 to 58 but it speeds up again when I am active. I haven't taken my pulse after vigorous exercise like walking up a steep slope recently, but I think it is in the low 100s. In other words, fairly normal for someone of my age (76). I only notice the AF because of missed beats when taking it conventionally though my BP monitor tells me it is in AF as does my doctor and cardiologist. Otherwise apart from breathless when making an effort and the perennial giddiness I can't complain.
I haven't taken alternative rate control medicines for years, but after my first episode of AF when I was hospitalised for a week in 1995 and given various alternative beta blockers (like Atenolol for some reason) I had great problems with AF and several more episodes of being sent to emergency by well meaning GPs until I went back to sotalol. So it has worked for me for many years. I even stopped taking half of it in 2020 thinking I no longer needed it, one of the reasons apart from the lack of any effective anti coagulant, why I suddenly had my ischaemic stroke in July 2020, something it has taken more than two years to get over, but now hopefully not preventing me from doing most of what I want to do.
I think it is a very good effective drug, but then it has worked for me, but not for everybody of course.
Thank you so much for this response Oscar. I have to say so far it appears to be working for the arrhythmias, which is fantastic. I am actually somewhat in need of adjustment, as normally I would feel digestive symptoms and always have them followed by strange dizzy feelings, the bumps of PVCs, and sometimes after awhile, morphing into AF. It feels quite strange to me to feel digestive symptoms by themselves without the other! I feel like this new EP hit the nail on the head on the first try, of course cautiously hopeful still as it's only been a few days.
Only other thing that has occurred other than the dehydration, is this morning I had periods where my heart rate dropped quite low, 38-45ish for a few minutes that I noticed while sitting having breakfast. I moved around and it went back to normal. No worries though, I just expect that to be part of adjustment to the medication.
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