My Sotalol Apprehension - Monitor or Not

Hello, my A-fib brothers and sisters:

I've been dealing in and out of persistent A-fib for 20+ years. I've had multiple cardioversions averaging 9-12 months between episodes of A-fib and one ablation that lasted about a year. Recently, after another episode of A-fib, a new doctor has recommended Sotalol to be taken for a period of time to see if I convert before another cardioversion or ablation is performed. My apprehension about taking this medication comes from the fact that a previous doctor told me patients need to be monitored for 3 days in a hospital setting when taking this drug. Additionally, Dr. Google at Drugs.com also suggests a 3 day monitoring for some serious side effects. However, my new doctor said monitoring is not needed.

Is there anyone out there that can share your opinions / experiences with Sotalol?
- Did you have to be monitored for 3 days?
- Did you experience any side effects?
- Did it work in converting you back to Sinus?

Thank you very much for feedback or suggestions.

My first episode of Afib I was admitted from the ED to a tele unit. I converted within 24 hours and was discharged on Sotalol. I did not spend 3 days in the hospital. Only side effect noticed was slight fatigue but it was never so bad I could not do things nor did it interfere w every day life.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2024 05:35PM by JakeS.

I was on sotalol for a while. It worked to keep me out of afib but not to convert me. I had to have a cardioversion the day after starting the sotalol. I was not required to do the 3-day hospital stay. That decision is usually based on your QT interval, so if your QT interval is normally on the longer side, you'll probably have to do the 3 days, but otherwise you won't. Women have naturally longer intervals, so it's more common for them to have to do the 3 days. And there's also simply the doctor's preferences. Some are more conservative than others.

My EP’s hospital’s protocol is to admit for 48 hours. My EP wanted 3 days while the consultant ep I visited to humor my GP request (who told me to restart flecainide after I had an overdose) said no hospital monitoring is required.

I’m getting a 48 hours admission in two weeks when they restart Sotalol.

How is your QT? Is it long? Then I would say perhaps to be monitored. 3 years ago I had started Sotalol at the same hospital that Natale is attending and I was there 3 days being monitored. My new hospital is attached to a mall where you see shoppers in gowns and IV poles wandering around. They have 3 really good restaurants. If nothing goes wrong, it will be an easy admission.

I’m being admitted tomorrow morning for 48 hours while starting Sotalol. I wonder if they will cease giving me my BB which I need to calm my palpitations.

In the states I was given both cardiazem and Sotalol. But I’m in a foreign country with their own guidelines.

I would expect they will stop the beta blocker because sotalol is a beta blocker. Cardizem (diltiazem) isn't a beta blocker so that's why they didn't stop it.