feeling panicky

[Sixtychick]

I know I’ve put about it on here before, but I have been worrying about coming off 40mg Sotalol and taking a higher dose of Amlodipine to compensate for it. Now I’ve started to get panic attacks just thinking about it. I stopped Sotalol before and it put my blood pressure very high and they put me on Amlodipine 5 mg, which made me very light headed and put my BP quite low, so it was reduced to 2.5mg. My blood pressure has been ok on these 2 tablets, but I am feeling lightheaded on 2.5mg Amlodipine and I’m worried about how it’s going to make me feel when I change/ stop the medication. I know I’m being stupid and I expect you’ll tell me to talk to my GP, which I will try and do tomorrow. You have to ring at 8 am to get an appointment and wait in a queue.

I just wanted to talk about it now, to try and stop this scared feeling I’m experiencing.

[BobD Volunteer]

Sotalol also acts as an antiarrhythmic so you arenet loosing out.

[Sixtychick in reply to BobD]

Not sure what you meant, with arenet loosing out!!

[Qualipop]

Why don't you phone the BHF nurses today to find out exactly what each tablet does so you have information before you speak to your doctor.

[Sixtychick]

Thanks. I spoke to the GP this morning. He said to stop the Amlodipine, as it was causing my BP to go too low with the Sotalol, which was why I was so lightheaded. Sotalol reduces your blood pressure too, although it was given to me for the AFib and SVT I had. Hopefully the ablation has stopped both of those, although I still get palpitations, so will be ok to keep taking the Sotalol. I’ve been on Sotalol many years at different amounts. Now just taking 40 mg twice daily. Just hope I have no problems now I’m stopping the Amlodipine, although I haven’t been on it very long and only on 2.5 mg.How I hated the Amlodipine.

[Karendeena in reply to Sixtychick]

Hi, it's Karen again. You are now on exactly the same dose of Sotalol as me! I wondered why they had changed your meds. Sotalol does reduce your BP hence why I couldn't have it increased anymore and had to go for ablation. My BP varies but often only just about 110/68 my EP isn't concerned about this and I don't have any symptoms

[Karendeena]

Hi, I think we are both under the same hospital if I remember correctly?? I have had my Sotalol reduced from 40mg 3 times daily to 40mg twice daily. I am 10 months post ablation. I don't think my EP wants me to come off Sotalol completely as he likes a 'belt and braces' approach. I put my trust in him completely. I don't think I have had any episodes reducing but have also become a bit panicky especially when I go to bed at night. I am wondering if this is a bit of withdrawal 🤔

Why don't you stay on a low dose of Sotalol, is there a specific reason for making changes to your meds?

As far as I am concerned anything that keeps the beast from my door is a positive x

[Sixtychick in reply to Karendeena]

I talked to the GP yesterday and I am stopping the Amlodipine, as it made me feel very light headed and put had my BP too low at times and I’m staying on 40 mg Sotalol twice a day. That does lower your BP as well. My BP averaged 131/76 before I started Amlodipine and GO said that was ok. I did try to cut Sotalol down to 20 mg in October and my BP spiked to 180/90 so had to go to A&E. That is when I was put on BP tablets. I was only on 2.5 mg of Amlodipine.Dr said to just stop it, but I’ve cut it in half. I feel a bit anxious today and read it’s one of the side effects of coming off Amlodipine. Wish I’d never tried to come off the Sotalol and then I’d not have had the BP problems. I wanted to come off it, because Sotalol reacts with a lot of drugs. I keep a list, I got off the NICE website, that tells you what drugs react with it and check it before I take anything new.I have a list for the statin and anticoagulant I’m on too and the Amlodipine. Hope I get over this Amlodipine withdrawal quickly.

[Karendeena in reply to Sixtychick]

That's my concern with Sotalol, so many contraindications. I desperately need antidepressants at the moment because of struggling with mum's behaviour towards me but an increased risk of a bleed whilst taking apixaban. May have to take that risk!!

[Sixtychick in reply to Karendeena]

I hate taking new medicines and I hate this amlodipine. I hope you’re getting some help with your mother. I’m assuming she has some sort of dementia.

[Karendeena in reply to Sixtychick]

Doctors still say no dementia, I have tried and tried to explain how she behaves but when she is visited by the professionals she turns on the charm and behaves normally, seems it's me she attacks but started doing the same with my brother now. He is not good mentally or physically so I have 2 of them with no help, it's destroying me 😥Thanks for asking xx

[Sixtychick in reply to Karendeena]

Oh dear. So sorry. Very difficult for you, by the sounds of it. Hope you get the help you need for yourself.