I had an ablation in September. I read the Drs letter they gave me when going home and it looks like they’ll be taking me off Sotalol. I had to stop this for 2 days before my ablation and it started my AFib off, so obviously I’m worried about stopping it again. I am on 80mg twice a day now. They reduced my evening dose by 40 mg , straight after my ablation.I was thinking I could reduce it one dose at a time by 40 mg for a few weeks, so my body gets used to the lower doses. I was ok reducing the evening one from 120 mg to 80 mg. I’ve been on Sotalol for many years now, so obviously it’s worrying when you know they’re going to stop it.It also says I will be on Edoxaban for life. Any tips on how you came off it and if it affected you, would be helpful, please.
coming off Sotalol: I had an ablation... - Atrial Fibrillati...
coming off Sotalol
If you have faith that your ablation did the trick then stopping should be no problem. I do know how you feel though so why not (when they tell you) reduce the dose over several weeks, dropping evening. then halving morning, then every other day etc.
Thanks Bob, I was thinking of doing that. Luckily, I have a few weeks spare 40mg tablets, so can halve them and take 60mg instead of 80mg one dose at a time. Unfortunately, you’ll not know if the ablation has worked, unless the awful AFib returns. You can only hope it doesn’t. I only had it a few times a year, so it’s difficult to know. I had a good, experienced EP. at Glenfield in Leicester. He said he’d done over 2000 ablations, so knew what he was doing and he came round after I was back on the ward and said it had been very successful, so 🤞🤞🤞
I am still waiting for the 3 month follow up appointment, which should have been around 19th December, but I expect, it’s delayed, due to the Drs strikes. Would like to get some re-assurance on these ectopics I’ve been getting since 3 weeks after my ablation. I asked about them on here and I was told most people had them after ablation, but I would like an ECG, so they can see what’s going on, to put my mind at rest.
which doctor performed your Ablation please?
Dr Sandilands from Glenfield hospital in Leicester.
I would like an ECG
Perhaps after the ablation they are concerned about the QTc prolongation thus the reduced dose. The ECG will tell the story. In the interim, best to follow advice.
I will be asking questions, if I ever get my follow up appointment. Was supposed to have it 3 months after my Ablation, which would have been 19th December, but with Xmas, New Year and all these Doctors strikes, looks like I’ll be waiting weeks before I’m seen. Hopefully they’ll give me an ECG and/or Holster Monitor, to find out if anything is untoward, when I’m eventually seen.
Hi 60's chick
If your doctor has indicated that you will be taken off Sotalol, they have likely considered the potential risks and benefits for your specific case.
Your idea of gradually reducing the dose, as you did with the evening dose, sounds reasonable. However, it's important to consult with your doctor, who can provide a personalized tapering plan based on your medical history and the specific reasons for stopping Sotalol.
As for Edoxaban, it is an anticoagulant prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots in patients with afib. If your doctor has recommended it for life, they are likely considering your ongoing risk factors for clotting. It's important to take this medication as prescribed to maintain its effectiveness.
I would ask your medic
What is the specific reason for stopping Sotalol?
Can we create a gradual tapering plan for Sotalol to minimize potential side effects?
What signs or symptoms should I watch for during the transition?
Why am I being prescribed Edoxaban for life, and what are the expected benefits and risks?
Are there any lifestyle changes or precautions I should take while on Edoxaban?
HNY Paul
I had an ablation for PAF in September and it says on the letter, I was given when I went home, that my Sotalol would be reduced and it says, Sotalol to be at 80 mg twice a day for 2 months and if no arrhythmia, can reduce to 40 mg twice a day, till review in clinic.I’m getting ectopics, so haven’t reduced it.I’ve been on Sotalol for many years and was put on Edoxaban a few years ago.
Everybody gets etctopics even those with no AF. The problem is we get too darned sensitive and notice them whilst others don't. Try the slow deep breathing trick. Works for most people if you do it correctly. Use diaphragm and slow to less than six breaths a minute for at least five minutes.
I suppose so. You’re right about us AFibbers being sensitive, when it comes to your heart. We notice every odd beat.!! I’ll try that. Thanks. Best wishes for 2024.
Sure Sixtychick. Hey I'm sure it will work out for. I can research deeper if you wish - PM me if you really want me to dig in deep. Please note it will time from my side so thats not a light request.
Happy New Year Paul
Thanks. It’ll be ok. Best wishes for a good 2024.
Hi!
First, Happy New Year!
Second, I started weaning off Sotalol after my three months blanking period per Doctors orders. I was so happy to be coming off of it.
It has been a little over a month now and after a 14 day monitor showed no AFIB the Pradaxa has been stopped also.
It has been a bit of a trial. I was on Sotalol for 4 years so my body is trying to get used to regulating my heart rate by itself. There has been some PVCs, SVTs, and sinus tachycardia.
I wanted to go back on SOTALOL at first but after talking to my Cardiologist decided to stick it out.
It has slowly gotten better with time. I maintain my routine and don’t let the exaggerated episodes get to me and they pass. I have read that this sometimes happens after an ablation and usually resolves itself over time.
Fingers crossed for both of us Sixtychick.
I’ve been on Sotalol for a long time. Can’t remember when I first went on it, so it will probably be harder for me to stop it. Would be good not to take it, although I will have to take the Edoxaban for life, Dr said.🤞🤞I’ll be ok when I stop it eventually.
I'm quite surprised about just how sotalol is treated by doctors. The paperwork says quite clearly it is actually dangerous to abruptly stop it, but that is exactly what happened when I had my stroke three years ago and the doctors in the hospital just withdrew it in the week afterwards. (I had been taking 80 mg daily since 1995!) I remember remonstrating with the nurses about the fact I needed sotalol as otherwise I would be back in AF again (the cause of the stroke of course) but they just said 'Doctor knows best' and weren't concerned about giving me any alternative. All I was receiving at that stage was Apixaban and something for blood pressure. I wasn't prescribed any more rhythm control medication until I had an appointment with a cardiologist several weeks later who gave me Amiodarone (another story of course). I had a terrible time on the latter and it took several months and multiple phone calls before I was told to go back on to Sotalol.
Is sotalol dangerous if suddenly withdrawn? That's what it says on the leaflet. Or can it just be disregarded? Or is it dependent on the dosage taken?
Thanks for your reply. That’s scary. I will be stopping it very very slowly, whatever the Dr says. I must have been on Sotalol for at least 15/20 years and my dose is 80mg twice a day. I can’t remember when I was first given it. Sorry about your stroke, that must have been awful. Hope you recovered from it ok. Am still waiting for 3 monthly follow- up appointment with the Dr who did my ablation in September. Goodness knows when I’ll get it, with all these Drs strikes.
I am 90% recovered from my stroke! I was amazingly lucky. Caused of course by AF as I was taking just aspirin as anticoagulant at the time! Nobody told me about apixaban, and the GP never mentioned it.
Like all of us here, life can be quite difficult with symptoms but as I'm 77 I really am far better than most of the people in my age group in terms of active life style.
Happy New Year to you!
That was bad. Glad to hear, you are nearly recovered. Hope 2024, will be a good year for you.
Yes, I would stop very slowly.
I stopped slower than the EP suggested because it is dangerous to stop any BB suddenly. My last dose ended up being 40 mg once a day for about two weeks.
Keep us posted and take care.
I agree, reduce gradually. My EP told me to just stop it. I had awful side effects. My afib went bananas. I would wean myself off slowly if I had a second chance at it.
Thanks. It is worrying when you’ve been on a drug such as this for a long time and then have to stop it. You’d think the Drs would know better than to just stop them.
The pharmacist might know more. But experience of other people is worth its weight in gold tbh
I was on sotalol 80mg a day while I had nearly 3 years of constant persistent AF. I knew my ablation had worked as I woke up in NSR ! They took me off sotalol straight away.
3 years of NSR since apart from 2 bursts of AF when I had covid a year ago. I called in and they said take a sotalol. I did and 40 minutes later I was back in NSR. Same next day. Since then all OK. This year they took me off Edoxaban so now I'm med free. I carry a sotalol 80 as a 'PIP' just in case.
Thanks. Just hope my AFib doesn’t return. I had an episode of AFib in February last year and I always have to go into A&E as my heart rate and blood pressure go very high, so I was told to go in and they always try and stop the AFib. Anyway, they gave me a Covid test, as they did with everyone who went to A&E then and my test was positive. I’d never had it before and wouldn’t have known I’d got it. I did have a little bit of a cough, but never really thought it could be Covid, after all the things you’d heard about it. It did start my AFib though. That’s what the Drs said. I must say, I’m worried about getting it again, in case it starts my AFib off again. I have my fingers tightly crossed that my ablation worked.🤞🤞🤞
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