how will I know if sotalol is actually working since I just went off of amiodarone - Drug Interactions / Side Effects Message Board

libbyj6067 · 04-16-2009, 08:35 PM

how will I know if sotalol is actually working since I just went off of amiodarone

Fizzickle · 04-18-2009, 03:18 PM

Libby:

Were you taking amiodarone for atrial fibrillation?

I took Sotalol HCl for severe afib. It worked fine for several years, but finally was less and less effective. At that point, my cardiologist put me in the hospital and started me on Tikosyn.

Both of these medicines can be very effective, from my experience. And both need to be monitored for two or three days when started to insure they don't introduce undesirable heart rhythms. I knew Sotalol was working because my heart didn't go into afib during the monitored introduction.

I found Sotalol to be effective for several years.

Best wishes,
Bill

libbyj6067 · 04-18-2009, 10:26 PM

I just went off the amiodarone last week ,but, the doctor said he would like to start the sotalol in about a month. According to the doctor, The amiodarone may stay in my system for up to 1 year because I had been on it for 4 years for my Afib.
If i do the sotalol then how will I know it is actually the right dose etc. if the Amiodarone is still working in my system? Also , Do you know anything about the cardiac ablation.?

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea this morning. My cardiologist will get the results this week though. He said he felt that sleep apnea could be triggering some of my Afib episodes.

Thanks for your feedback