Our library of drug research abstracts drawn from the medical literature is updated on a regular schedule, and you can be assured that new betapace research articles will be listed here shortly after becoming available to us.
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Medical research on betapace
Evaluation of the dofetilide risk-management program.
Am Heart J. 2003 Nov; 146(5): 894-901
Allen LaPointe NM, Chen A, Hammill B, DeLong E, Kramer JM, Califf RM
BACKGROUND: Dose-dependent torsades de pointes has been shown to occur with dofetilide (Tikosyn) and sotalol HCl (Betapace AF); thus, detailed dosing and monitoring recommendations to minimize this risk are included in the product labeling for both drugs. Only dofetilide, however, has a mandated risk-management program that restricts distribution of the drug and requires prescriber education on the drug. We investigated whether this program improved adherence to dosing and monitoring recommendations for dofetilide as compared with sotalol. METHODS: Charts for 47 patients taking dofetilide and 117 patients taking sotalol were reviewed. RESULTS: The recommended starting dose was prescribed more frequently in the dofetilide group than in the sotalol group (79% vs 35%, P
Pharmacotherapy. 2003 Oct; 23(10): 1316-21
LaPointe NM, Pamer CA, Kramer JM
OBJECTIVE: To determine how well dofetilide and Betapace AF (sotalol, approved solely for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter), with their detailed dosing and monitoring guidelines for safety, were accepted into clinical practice during the 2 calendar years after their introduction. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed the number of new, refill, and total prescriptions of all antiarrhythmic agents in the United States from April 2000-December 2001 to assess use of dofetilide and Betapace AF in the drug market. Both were prescribed very infrequently throughout the study period. In addition, the infrequent reported use of these drugs for patients with atrial fibrillation and flutter indicated poor acceptance of these agents by prescribing physicians. We speculated that the restricted distribution and required educational program for dofetilide, as well as the availability of generic sotalol products, may have discouraged physicians from prescribing both dofetilide and Betapace AE CONCLUSION: A common goal for both the dofetilide risk-management program and the creation of a sotalol product indicated solely for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter was to provide safer treatment for patients with these arrhythmias. Unfortunately, limited penetration of dofetilide and Betapace AF into the U.S. market suggests that drugs without a risk-management program or detailed dosing guidelines were more likely than dofetilide or Betapace AF to be selected for treatment of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
Sotalol hydrochloride (Betapace): a new antiarrhythmic drug.
Am J Crit Care. 1994 Jan; 3(1): 80
Porterfield JG, Porterfield LM
Sotalol hydrochloride (Betapace): a new antiarrhythmic drug.
Am J Crit Care. 1993 Sep; 2(5): 397-406
Dunnington CS
Sotalol hydrochloride (Betapace), recently released by the Food and Drug Administration for general use, is used to treat a variety of ventricular and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. The drug's dominant action is the result of combined nonselective beta-adrenergic antagonism (Class II effect) and monophasic action potential duration prolongation in all cardiac tissues (Class III effect). It causes less left ventricular depression than propranolol and has a low incidence of toxicity. It is a useful addition to the antiarrhythmic drug armamentarium. This article reviews the drug's pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and electrophysiologic properties, clinical uses and potential side effects. Reports on the drug's use as an antianginal and antihypertensive agent are also discussed.