Vivid dreams and disturbed sleep

[Karendeena]

I dread going to bed! I used to be such a good sleeper but since taking Sotalol I have suffered.Does anyone in this group who take Sotalol get the same problems?

Often the dreams are so vivid and weird they wake me with my heart pounding and then I have to decide if it's triggered my afib.

I must say my episodes usually start in the night like many of you

My EP says there isn't any other suitable drug for me as I can't take Flecainide and my blood pressure is naturally low so that limits me for some of the others.

I am on the waiting list for an ablation

[MrsSuzuki]

Hi there. I don't take Sotalol but ever since I've been taking Bisoprolol (a beta blocker just the same), I've had vivid dreams, sometimes very disturbing. Other members have mentioned this too.

Lily

[Buzby62]

I believe bisoprolol does the same to me, I started taking it the same time as apixaban. After starting meds nearly all my episodes started at night about 3or4am. When my bisoprolol dose was increased I asked to have it split so I take 1.25mg about 8am as I did before the increase and another 1.25mg about 8pm. After a few months my episodes start at random times of the day. I have a theory that the effectiveness of the beta blocker was starting to wear off. Still have the dreams but not had an episode start over night since. I try not to get up too quickly when I wake. As of yesterday, I am also on the list for a cryoablation.

[BenHall1]

Hi,

I've never commented before about this .... but .... I've just switched from Bisoprolol to Nebivolol and suddenly I appear free of these ... yep, vivid and weird describes these dreams. That said, I had been on Bisoprolol for over 13 years and it is not something that I have experienced all that time - just something that has grown over the last few years. Sometimes I wake and and think ..yikes ... that was horrible/ghastly, whacko Jacko or whatever. No regular effect on my heart. BUT, I do have to get up and move around the house.

Also, as an aside - many years ago on here - it was jeanjeannie who wrote a text on getting out of bed. She advocated sitting a while on the edge of the bed before bouncing out. Previously I woke up and just bounced out and around. It seemed sage advice and was something I'd never thought of - something about giving the heart an opportunity to stabilise it beats before moving into the wide cruel world.

(Smack my hand Jean if I've incorrectly quoted or misnamed you ). However, in the context of this current post these weirdo dreams have not had a regular impact on my heart. But then I do sit a while ......

John

[Buzby62 in reply to BenHall1]

Off subject about misnaming, I worked out today how to tag another member, just type @ or use @ from the format options below the message box, before the start of their name (no space) and you will have a drop down list of names beginning with the letters you’ve typed so far, for example BenHall1

Screenshot

[Joc1007]

I had same problem with Bisprolol and Propranolol - it's problem with beta blockers crossing blood / brain barrier. I agreed with my cardiologist to reduce propranolol to once a day in morning (was 80mg twice a day) which has helped considerably. I was previously on Soltalol but this caused me to have episodes of confusion/memory loss so I had to stop it (known rare side effect)

[Nan1]

Hello Karendeena. I have always been someone who dreams but since taking Sotalol my dreams are quite often very vivid and disturbing. Also awaiting an ablation hopefully in October/November so let’s hope we can come off this drug

[Karendeena in reply to Nan1]

Nan1 I hope so, I have so many effects, I am beginning to think aches and pains and hair loss too (I know I am getting older) but all this seems to tie in with when I started sotalol

[Windlepoons]

I'm on Sotalol and do get vivid dreams, but I have always had them. Well before taking any medication at all.

[DKBX]

Switched from metoprolol & diltiazem to Sotalol a month ago. I’ve always been a light sleeper and aware of dreams … but I’m also a lucid dreamer and so have always been able to control the dreams. Consequently, no disturbing dreams. And sotalol not worse than previous beta blockers.

[Janith]

I have been on sotalol for approximately six years and l sleep like a baby. Try melatonin one mg only dissolvable. Take it one-half hour before sleepy time … get it off of Amazon or on-line by NATROL. I do have dreams but l ignore them and just let them do their thing and continue sleeping. I have no side effects from this medication and l take the lowest dose am and pm. My cardiologist loves this medication! I rarely have afib and would never consider ablation. This is a very personal decision. Best, Jan

[Karendeena in reply to Janith]

Hi Janith my EP rates sotalol too but it does come with a black box warning according to NICE. I would prefer not to be on it for the rest of my life. I get breakthrough episodes so it's not really working for me.What dose of sotalol do you take? I have 40mg x 3 a day but can't increase it as my BP is too low.

What were your episodes like before you went on it? Mine are very fast and uncomfortable.

There are a lot of drugs and supplements that you can't take with sotalol, did you check the melatonin with your consultant. Mine won't let me take much at all 😞

[Samazeuilh2]

I take Bisoprolol now but took Sotalol for about 5 years. It produced vivid dreams intermittently (as does Bisoprolol). These are a known side effect of beta blockers generally- they block the release of seratonin. I’m familiar with the rapid heart rate on waking which you describe, To deal with these I was advised to keep to good sleep hygiene, exercise, do mindfulness etc. See:

healthline.com/health/anxie...

You might also be able to play around with the times you take the medication but this probably needs discussion with a GP.