Part Two of Betapace Information, Focusing on Side Effects, Discontinuation or Withdrawal Effects, and Additional Information

This second section of our medication database entry focuses on potential side effects, withdrawal or discontinuation effects, and additional information, while part one covers basic drug characteristics, uses and benefits.

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What are the possible side effects of sotalol?

  • Call your doctor immediately if you experience shortness of breath, fainting, become dizzy, or have fast heartbeats. If you cannot reach your doctor, go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Also, call your doctor right away if you have severe diarrhea, unusual sweating, vomiting, less appetite than normal, or more thirst than normal.
  • If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking sotalol and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
    • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; hives);
    • wheezing or shortness of breath;
    • dizziness or fainting;
    • a slow or fast heartbeat;
    • swelling of the feet and lower legs;
    • chest (heart) pain;
    • severe diarrhea;
    • unusual sweating;
    • vomiting;
    • less appetite than normal;
    • more thirst than normal;
    • blue or cold feet and hands; or
    • a rash.
  • If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continue taking sotalol and talk to your doctor:
    • fatigue, weakness, or confusion;
    • headache or dizziness;
    • nausea;
    • depression;
    • insomnia (difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep);
    • nightmares; or
    • impotence (difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection).
  • Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect sotalol?

  • Before taking sotalol, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
    • a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Norvasc), bepridil (Vascor), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), or verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin);
    • disopyramide (Norpace), quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute, Quinidex, others), procainamide (Pronestyl, Procan SR), or amiodarone (Cordarone);
    • reserpine, hydralazine (Apresoline, others), guanethidine (Ismelin), guanfacine (Tenex), guanadrel (Hylorel), or guanabenz;
    • doxazosin (Cardura), terazosin (Hytrin), or prazosin (Minipress);
    • insulin or an oral diabetes medicine such as glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolbutamide (Orinase), acetohexamide (Dymelor), or tolazamide (Tolinase);
    • a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), promethazine (Phenergan), and others;
    • a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others;
    • albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil, Volmax, others), terbutaline (Brethine), bitolterol (Tornalate), salmeterol (Serevent), and others;
    • clonidine (Catapres);
    • digoxin (Lanoxin);
    • antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E.E.S., E-Mycin, others), troleandomycin (TAO), sparfloxacin (Zagam), moxifloxacin (Avelox), gatifloxacin (Tequin), and others; or
    • cisapride (Propulsid).
  • You may not be able to take sotalol, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medications listed above.
  • Do not take antacids containing aluminum or magnesium (e.g., Rolaids, Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil, Milk of Magnesia, and others) within 2 hours of a dose of sotalol.
  • Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with sotalol or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines (including vitamins, natural supplements, and natural or herbal remedies).

Where can I get more information?

  • Your pharmacist has additional information about sotalol written for health professionals that you may read.
  • Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Limitations and the Source of Our Online Medication Information Database

Although we have made considerable efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, MedLibrary.org makes no guarantee to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. This medication information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend any specific pharmacotherapy. This is an educational resource only -- intended to supplement but not to replace the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of medically qualified healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, please check with your doctor, nurse or local pharmacist. MedLibrary.org does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided here.

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Version: 6.03. Revision Date: 2/14/03.

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