Sotalol Hydrochloride (5 brand names, 2 dosage forms, 2 routes)
Available dosage forms: TABLET, SOLUTION.
Routes of administration: ORAL, INTRAVENOUS.
Brand Names
- BETAPACE
- BETAPACE AF
- SORINE
- SOTALOL HYDROCHLORIDE
- SOTYLIZE
Boxed Warning
WARNING: LIFE THREATENING PROARRHYTHMIA To minimize the risk of drug-induced arrhythmia, initiate or reinitiate oral sotalol in a facility that can provide cardiac resuscitation and continuous electrocardiographic monitoring. Sotalol can cause life threatening ventricular tachycardia associated with QT interval prolongation. If the QT interval prolongs to 500 msec or greater, reduce the dose, lengthen the dosing interval, or discontinue the drug. Calculate creatinine clearance to determine appropriate dosing [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ].
Contraindications
Sotalol/Sotalol AF is contraindicated in patients with: Sinus bradycardia, sick sinus syndrome, second and third degree AV block, unless a functioning pacemaker is present Congenital or acquired long QT syndromes Cardiogenic shock or decompensated heart failure Serum potassium <4 mEq/L Bronchial asthma or related bronchospastic conditions Hypersensitivity to sotalol For the treatment of AFIB/AFL, Sotalol/Sotalol AF is also contraindicated in patients with: Baseline QT interval >450 msec
Mechanism of Action
Sotalol has both beta-adrenoreceptor blocking (Vaughan Williams Class II) and cardiac action potential duration prolongation (Vaughan Williams Class III) antiarrhythmic properties. The two isomers of sotalol have similar Class III antiarrhythmic effects, while the l-isomer is responsible for virtually all of the beta-blocking activity. The beta-blocking effect of sotalol is non-cardioselective, half maximal at about 80 mg/day and maximal at doses between 320 and 640 mg/day. Sotalol does not have partial agonist or membrane stabilizing activity. Although significant beta-blockade occurs at oral doses as low as 25 mg, significant Class III effects are seen only at daily doses of 160 mg and above. In children, a Class III electrophysiologic effect can be seen at daily doses of 210 mg/m2 body surface area (BSA). A reduction of the resting heart rate due to the beta-blocking effect of sotalol is observed at daily doses ≥ 90 mg/m2 in children.
Overdosage
Intentional or accidental overdosage with sotalol has resulted in death. Symptoms and Treatment of Overdosage The most common signs to be expected are bradycardia, congestive heart failure, hypotension, bronchospasm and hypoglycemia. In cases of massive intentional overdosage (2–16 grams) of sotalol the following clinical findings were seen: hypotension, bradycardia, cardiac asystole, prolongation of QT interval, Torsade de Pointes, ventricular tachycardia, and premature ventricular complexes. If overdosage occurs, therapy with sotalol should be discontinued and the patient observed closely. Because of the lack of protein binding, hemodialysis is useful for reducing sotalol plasma concentrations. Patientsshould be carefully observed until QT intervals are normalized and the heart rate returns to levels >50 bpm. The occurrence of hypotension following an overdose may be associated with an initial slow drug elimination phase (half-life of 30 hours) thought to be due to a temporary reduction of renal function caused by the hypotension. In addition, if required, the following therapeutic measures are suggested: Bradycardia or Cardiac Asystole: Atropine, another anticholinergic drug, a beta-adrenergic agonist or transvenous cardiac pacing. Heart Block: (second and third degree) transvenous cardiac pacemaker. Hypotension: (depending on associated factors) epinephrine rather than isoproterenol or norepinephrine may be useful. Bronchospasm: Aminophylline or aerosol beta-2-receptor stimulant. Higher than normal doses of beta-2 receptor stimulants may be required. Torsade de Pointes: DC cardioversion, transvenous cardiac pacing, epinephrine, magnesium sulfate.