Changed to Sotalol

[Leicestershire]

Hello everybody

I am fairly new to this site and AFib. Started off on Amiodarone couldn't get on with it changed last week to Sotalol. Only been on it for 3 days but feeling dizzy Amiodarone still in system Can I ask does taking this medication always result in females losing their hair and is there anything you can do about it?

Also over the past 3 weeks only managing 3 hours sleep per night. Wake up fearful of everything.

Sue

[timelucky]

In my experience you get used to the new normal in quite a short time I can't comment about hair loss being a bloke, but the sleeping & feeling anxious do let up after a while, at least for me. It's not like it was before AF came to town but all in all I'll take it rather than a scary pulse. It's daunting I know but try to relax, breathe properly & keep hydrated.

Be Lucky

[Leicestershire in reply to timelucky]

Many thanks for taking the time to reply.

[Sixtychick]

I have been on Sotalol for many years. I was started on it, when in hospital, with recurrent SVT, but they continued it when I developed AFIB as well. I remember being dizzy for a few days, until they lowered the dose and my body got used to it. When I had my ablation, I was told to come off it, but when I tried, my blood pressure rose to a very high level and I had to go to hospital with an hypertensive crisis, so I’m now back on it, on a lower dose than I was before. Never had any other problems with it, as far as I can remember.

One thing I recommend you do though, is go onto the “NICE” website and load the list of drugs that react with Sotalol, onto your phone, as there are quite a lot and it is a good idea to check for drug reactions, if you take or are given any other drugs.

[shaza2 in reply to Sixtychick]

what is your lower dose of sotalol?

[Sixtychick in reply to shaza2]

I am on 40mg twice a day now.

[Gfern]

I was on sotalol for many years and it worked well for me in controlling my AFib, I didn't suffer any side effects, hopefully that will be the same for you. The anxiety will lessen as time passes and you realise that you are surviving, and the medication is working for you. I well understand those feelings when first diagnosed everything feels different and concerning. Lying in bed wondering is this the end ,but as time goes on and you keep waking up anyway, hopefully you can settle your thoughts that the end is hopefully a long way away. Please try to not worry too much this is a very treatable condition. Worry about hair loss if and when its a problem not before, the published side effects are a only a possiblity and not a certainty for you as an individual. Best of luck with your journey.

[Sixtychick in reply to Gfern]

Thanks. I have actually been on Sotalol for a very long time now.That is why I developed high blood pressure, when I tried to stop the Sotalol. It was the blood pressure medication that caused my anxiety and I was given the anxiety medication for that. I came off the anxiety medication after a week and I stopped the blood pressure medication, after a month,, as I couldn’t tolerate either of them.The Sotalol lowers your Blood pressure anyway and it shouldn’t have been stopped. I have been on different doses of Sotalol over the last 20 years or so. I am on 40 mg Sotalol twice a day now. I have had hypnotherapy instead of anxiety medication and it works for me and no medication is needed. I am more or less back to normal now. 🤞🤞

[Gfern in reply to Sixtychick]

Thats good to hear that you are back to feeling normal again after sorting out the meds. Onwards and Upwards 👍👍

[Sixtychick in reply to Gfern]

Thanks.🤞

[shaza2 in reply to Sixtychick]

Thanks for your reply. So helpful and reassuring. It is a mind sorting thing and then a trial. Just trying to take the first step.

[Sixtychick in reply to shaza2]

Going on new medicine is always hard, as you don’t know how you’ll get on with it.

[EW518]

I was diagnosed with Afib in 2020 and along with EP and Cardio visits I researched my situation "deeply" regarding most all drugs currently prescribed. After an initial round of Metoprolol I lobbied extensively to try Sotalol. My EP finally agreed it may be a good fit, and it has been, without question, the best of them. With each person, any drug can be either the best or the worst and the worst part of the trial can be what we read on the web that instills fear and causes more discomfort than you ever experience from the drug in actuality. As my EP constantly repeats, we are each a one of a kind model and there doesn't seem to be a "one size fits all" solution. After being on Sotalol, 80mg in the AM and 40mg in the PM, I have a consistent NSR and absolutely no side effects. Being diagnosed is certainly disturbing but try to look beyond the worry and live your life to the fullest extent you are able and know that Afib is an inconvenience but certainly a manageable condition. Best of luck to you and remember, you are not alone

[Leicestershire in reply to EW518]

Thank you for a very reassuring post Sue

[shaza2 in reply to EW518]

what was your experience like with Metoprolol? I tried it a long time ago and found it hard, but maybe I was too impatient with a result. Now faced with moving to Sotalol and reading about I am wondering if it is a better option?