Heart rate

[Falkovec]

Hello,

Does anyone have an observation with amiodoran or sotalol that the heart rate (pulse) is lower?

[Jajarunner]

Yes, my pulse is lower on amiodarone. It dropped by about 6-8 beats per minute and is now 44-52 resting heart rate.

[Dudtbin]

i am on sotalol, i have persistent AF and my heart rate now is between 50 and 60, before it was 130.

[KenRC]

Amiodarone definitely slowed my pulse rate by about 7 to 8 bpm.

[Falkovec in reply to KenRC]

I am also on amiodoran and have a low heart rate.

Now 21 this month I have to go on sotalol.

That's why I ask, how is the pulse with sotalol, compared to amiodoran?

Is it lower than with amiodoran?

[mav7 in reply to Falkovec]

Hi Falkovec you likely are aware the heart rate can vary with each individual on the same medication.

Your doctor has changed you to Sotalol for reasons related to your case. Monitor your heart rate and inform him of the results.

[Visigoth]

Yes, absolutely. I’m on amiodarone and my resting heart rate is now normally in the 40s and I feel great!

[bigtallgeezer]

I was on Sotalol, have been on Amiodarone now for9 months. My resting pulse is between 31 and 35. Lowest recorded on a holter is 28, with largest gap between beats, just short of 5 seconds.

You’d think the NHS would get round to doing something about it wouldn’t you. I’m thinking of dropping the drugs and having the symptomatic AF back!

[Falkovec in reply to bigtallgeezer]

With such a low heart rate of 31-35 beats per minute, how do you feel?

When my heart rate is around 40, I feel bad, not well. That's exactly why I'm asking what the heart rate is with sotalol. If it's lower than with amiodorone, then I can't switch to sotalol.

I have to switch to sotalol because I have very bad side effects with amiodaran.

[bigtallgeezer]

My experience has been the opposite. Generally, I’ve felt bad on both drugs, just generally ill with about the same heart rate on both.

I had more side effects on Sotalol, and AFib breakthroughs, than with Amiodarone, but this one has definitely made my breathing worse. Hoping none of my changes are permanent! On the plus side for Amiodarone, I’m not as close to fainting all the time any more.

With my pulse slow, I find it hard to think at rest, fairly sleepy, and my short term memory is now shockingly poor.

Hoping for a pacemaker and/or ablation this year! Not holding my breath because speed is not one of my local hospital trusts strong points.

[Falkovec in reply to bigtallgeezer]

Thank you. I will discuss all this with my cardiologist and make a decision.