What foods should you avoid when taking sotalol?
Sotalol hydrochloride should not be taken with meals since absorption of the active ingredient can be affected by the simultaneous ingestion of food (in particular, milk and dairy products). Dose increases should not be attempted until the patient has been receiving treatment for at least two to three days. 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.Dietary Restrictions Avoid drinking tea or coffee with Sotalol because caffeine can decrease the effectiveness of the medicine.If sotalol makes you feel dizzy or weak, stop what you’re doing and sit or lie down until you feel better.
Can sotalol cause diarrhea?
Tell your doctor if you have fluid loss, unusual sweating, throwing up, diarrhea, decreased appetite, or unusual thirst. Do not stop taking this drug all of a sudden. If you do, chest pain that is worse and in some cases heart attack may occur. The risk may be greater if you have certain types of heart disease.
When should you not use sotalol?
You should not use sotalol if you have asthma, low potassium, or a serious heart condition such as severe heart failure, long QT syndrome, slow heartbeats that have caused you to faint, sick sinus syndrome or AV block (unless you have a pacemaker). 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.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.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.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.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.
What meds not to take with sotalol?
There are some medicines that may affect the way sotalol works. Tell your doctor if you’re taking any other medicines, including: medicines that can cause abnormal heart rhythms – these include some antibiotics, like clarithromycin and erythromycin, and some antidepressants, like citalopram and amitriptyline. 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.Sotalol is used to a treat life-threatening heart rhythm problem called ventricular arrhythmia. It is also used to treat heart rhythm problems called atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Sotalol is a beta-blocker. It works by affecting the response to nerve impulses in certain parts of the body, like the heart.A small number of pregnant women taking sotalol have been studied, with no concerns raised that its use causes harm. Sotalol belongs to a family of medicines called beta blockers. There are no concerns that beta blockers cause birth defects, stillbirth or preterm birth.
What are the long-term side effects of sotalol?
Sotalol may worsen existing heart failure or cause fluid buildup in your body. For individuals with underlying heart disease or heart damage, sotalol can potentially lead to heart failure over time. It slows down your heart rate and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. How long does sotalol take to work? Sotalol starts to work after about 4 hours, but it can take 2 to 3 days to work fully.