Product Details

Product Information of Sotalol 80mg Tablets

What you need to know before you take
Do not take Sotalol:
• If you have a history of breathing difficulties, wheezing or asthma
• If you are allergic to Sotalol, other Beta-Blockers or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
(listed in Section 6)
• If you have an irregular heartbeat caused by sick sinus syndrome, long QT syndromes or
Torsades de Pointes
• If you suffer from a condition where the heart beats irregularly or much more slowly than normal
(2nd or 3rd degree heart block) unless you have pacemaker
• If you have a slower heart beat than normal (bradycardia)
• If you suffer from heart failure which is not controlled by medicine
• If you have had a recent heart attack
• If you are going to have surgery and have an anaesthetic such as cyclopropane or
trichloroethylene (see Section 2 `Other medicines and Sotalol’)
• If you have an untreated tumour of the adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma)
• If you suffer from low blood pressure (hypotension) unless this is a result of the irregular
heartbeat
• If you suffer from poor circulation causing the fingers and toes to be numb and pale (Raynauds
phenomenon) or other circulation problems
• If you have an increased amount of acid in your blood (metabolic acidosis)
• If you suffer from kidney failure
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before taking Sotalol:
• If you already suffer from a pre-existing irregular heartbeat or other heart problems, especially if you are female
• If you are known to have low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood. Your doctor may want to check the levels before commencing treatment with Sotalol.

If you have severe or prolonged diarrhoea
• If you are taking other medication for heart problems such as ACE inhibitors, diuretics or digitalis
etc (see `Other medicines and Sotalol’ section)
• If you have a history of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) (see “Possible side effects” section)
• If you have diabetes or a history of low levels of sugar in your blood
• If you have an overactive thyroid, as Sotalol can hide the symptoms or make them worse if
treatment with Sotalol is stopped suddenly
• If you suffer from kidney problems
• If you have a skin disease which causes scaly pink patches (psoriasis)
Other medicines and Sotalol
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other
medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This includes herbal medicines.
Medicines which should not be taken with Sotalol:
• Fluoroquinolones used to treat infections (e.g. ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin)
• Medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats such as disopyramide, quinidine, procainamide,
amiodarone and bedpridil (antiarrhythmics)
• Anaesthetics such as cyclopropane and trichloroethylene (see Section 2, `Do not take Sotalol’)
Medicines which may interact with or be affected by Sotalol:
• Floctafenine, a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) used for the short-term treatment
of mild to moderate pain and inflammation
• Verapamil and diltiazem, used to treat high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, chest pain
(calcium channel blockers)
• Medicines used to treat heart failure such as digoxin (digitalis glycosides)
• Medicines used to treat high blood pressure such as reserpine, guanethidine or alpha methyldopa
• If you are due to have a urine test, Sotalol may interfere with the results
• Medicines used to treat high blood pressure or heart failure, such as lisinopril (ACE inhibitors)
Special care should be taken with the following medicines:
• Medicines that prolong QT interval such as:
o Phenothiazines, used to treat serious mental and emotional disorders and also severe
nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick)
o Tricyclic antidepressants, used to treat depression e.g. clomipramine
o Terfenadine and astemizole, used to treat allergic conditions (antihistamines)
• Medicines which may increase the risk of a life−threatening irregular heartbeat (Torsades de
Pointes) such as:
o Erythromycin IV, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections
o Halofantrine, used to treat malaria
o Pentamidine, used to treat or prevent pneumonia
o Medicines that may affect potassium levels such as potassium-depleting diuretics (e.g.
chlorothiazide), amphotericin B (IV) used to treat fungal infections, corticosteroids used to
relieve inflammation (e.g. prednisolone) and some potassium-depleting laxatives (e.g.
bisacodyl)
• Clonidine, used to treat high blood pressure and migraine. If you are taking Sotalol and Clonidine
together, Sotalol should be gradually stopped several days before slowly discontinuing Clonidine.
• Medicines used to treat diabetes such as insulin or metformin as the dose may need to be
adjusted. Sotalol may also hide or reduce the warning signs of low levels of sugar in your blood
(hypoglycaemia)
• Other beta−blockers, such as atenolol
• Magnesium-depleting medicines such as antacids (e.g. cimetidine)
Pregnancy and breast−feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask
your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant you should not take Sotalol unless considered essential by your doctor.
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Breast−feeding
If you are breast−feeding, you should not take Sotalol.
Driving and using machines
Sotalol may make you feel dizzy or tired. If you experience these symptoms whilst taking this
medicine, it is necessary to avoid driving or operating machinery.
Sotalol contain lactose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
Sotalol contains sodium

How to store Sotalol
• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
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• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after “EXP”. The
expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Store below 25°C. Store in the original package in order to protect from light.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.