What are the bad side effects of sotalol?
Sotalol may cause heart failure in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort, dilated neck veins, extreme fatigue, irregular breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, or weight gain. With appropriate monitoring, especially at the time of initiation, sotalol can be a safe and effective medication to treat atrial arrhythmias. Unfortunately, owing to its proarrhythmia risk, sotalol initiation typically requires a 3-day hospitalization to monitor for significant QT lengthening or arrhythmias.Sotalol may cause heart failure in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort, dilated neck veins, extreme fatigue, irregular breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, or weight gain.Sotalol should not be used by those with asthma or similar breathing problems. Severe or Worsening Heart Failure. Sotalol should not be used if your heart failure is severe or getting worse, causing you to feel very tired, have trouble breathing, or swelling in your legs.Usually, treatment with sotalol is long term, even for the rest of your life. Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking it. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse.
Can sotalol cause a cough?
This can also cause wheezing, cough, and chest discomfort. To lower your risk for lung problems, your provider will check your medical history and might give you a test that checks how healthy your lungs are before and during treatment with sotalol (Betapace). Continue to take sotalol even if you feel well. Do not stop taking sotalol without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking sotalol, you may experience serious heart problems such as angina (chest pain) or heart attack. Your doctor will probably want to decrease your dose gradually over 1 to 2 weeks.Sotalol may cause heart failure in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort, dilated neck veins, extreme fatigue, irregular breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, or weight gain.Sotalol (Betapace) can affect your heart rhythm, which can lead to serious and life-threatening problems like QT prolongation. To lower your risk, your provider might periodically check your heart and perform electrocardiograms (EKGs) to make sure your heart rhythm is normal.Sotalol may cause heart failure in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort, dilated neck veins, extreme fatigue, irregular breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, or weight gain.
What to avoid while taking sotalol?
Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of side effects with sotalol. It can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. During the first few days of taking sotalol or after an increase in your dose, it’s best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you. Like all medicines, sotalol can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. Side effects often improve as your body gets used to the medicine.Heart Rate Changes. Sotalol can make your heart beat slower than normal (bradycardia). Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of bradycardia. Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension). Sotalol may cause low blood pressure.Common side effects of sotalol include bradycardia, hypotension, fatigue, dizziness, depression, memory loss, impotence, cold limbs and, less commonly, severe hypotension, heart failure and bronchospasm.Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? You can eat and drink normally while taking sotalol. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help if you have a heart condition.If you suddenly stop taking sotalol, you may experience serious heart problems such as angina (chest pain) or heart attack. Your doctor will probably want to decrease your dose gradually over 1 to 2 weeks. Your doctor will watch you carefully and will probably tell you to avoid physical activity during this time.
Can sotalol cause hives?
Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Heart failure—shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands, sudden weight gain, unusual weakness or fatigue. All products: Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Does sotalol make you tired?
Sotalol may cause heart failure in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort, dilated neck veins, extreme fatigue, irregular breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, or weight gain. The recommended initial dose of sotalol is 80 mg, given twice daily if GFR is more than 60 mL/min, with the dose increased (generally allowing 2 to 3 days between dosing increments), up to 320 mg, given in 2 or 3 divided doses.You’ll usually take sotalol once or twice a day. Your doctor may advise you to take your first dose before bedtime, because it can make you feel dizzy. After the first dose, if you do not feel dizzy, you can take sotalol in the morning. If you take sotalol twice a day, try to take it in the morning and in the evening.The usual dose of sotalol is between 80mg and 320mg a day. If you get irregular heartbeats several times a day, your doctor may prescribe a higher daily dose of up to 640mg. If you’re older or have kidney problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose.