Re: Efficacy of Sotalol (Betapace)

June 23, 2002

One thing that your sotalol feedback does not account for is how many other

drugs have people been on. Some people have had trouble with every drug

that they have been on, and have some of the same symptoms for each drug.

Some others have only had a few drugs go bad with them. Walt, back from

vacation to soon.

Efficacy of Sotalol (Betapace)

> I would like to get some feedback on the perceived effectiveness of

> the drug Sotalol (Betapace)in the control of paroxysmal AF. I have

> placed a table in the Database section of the board and would

> appreciate responses from members of the group. If you have a few

> spare minutes and have any experience of this drug, please make an

> entry in the table.

>

> Many Thanks

>

> Dave

>

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> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should

be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

June 23, 2002

I would fall into this catagory. However, the side effects of sotalol beat

them all. The easiest was digoxin, flecainide was the best till I had

adverse reactions on the third day, it got rid of all the anxiety (I was

wondering how this one worked - does it block patassium or something - it

might show what I need to cut down on to relieve anxiety?). Atenolol was

similar to sotalol but not so severe. Arythmol made the arrhythmia worse and

added to it. I also felt really tired on it.

Fran Efficacy of Sotalol (Betapace)

>

> > I would like to get some feedback on the perceived effectiveness of

> > the drug Sotalol (Betapace)in the control of paroxysmal AF. I have

> > placed a table in the Database section of the board and would

> > appreciate responses from members of the group. If you have a few

> > spare minutes and have any experience of this drug, please make an

> > entry in the table.

> >

> > Many Thanks

> >

> > Dave

> >

> > Web Page - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport

> > FAQ -

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport/files/Administrative/faq.htm

> > For more information: http://www.dialsolutions.com/af

> > Unsubscribe: AFIBsupport-unsubscribe

> > List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> > For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

> > send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

> >

> > Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or

should

> be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

> >

June 23, 2002

> One thing that your sotalol feedback does not account for is how

many other

> drugs have people been on. Some people have had trouble with every

drug

> that they have been on, and have some of the same symptoms for

each drug.

> Some others have only had a few drugs go bad with them. Walt, back

from

> vacation to soon.

> Efficacy of Sotalol (Betapace)

>

> > I would like to get some feedback on the perceived effectiveness

of

Walt

Thanks for the feedback. Point taken about the other drugs, but the

table format only allows for 10 headings, so only a limited amount of

data can be entered in a single table. To cover other drugs we would

need more tables.

Regards

Dave

June 23, 2002

In a message dated 6/23/2002 10:27:59 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

Frances@... writes:

<< flecainide was the best till I had

adverse reactions on the third day, it got rid of all the anxiety (I was

wondering how this one worked - does it block patassium or something >>

Frances,

I think that Flecainide works similarly to a beta blocker but with

electrophysiological properties although I am not sure about that. I am sure

that Dofetilide is a potassium channel blocker because my cardiologist told

me that. Also, Sotalol is a beta blocker type with electrophysiological

properties, according to my cardiologist.

About two or three years ago when my cardiologist was trying to put me on

Sotalol, I did an informal Internet poll of Sotalol users. Out of about 50

who responded, most reported side effects which made them discontinue the

drug: tingling and numbness of extremities, dizziness, depression, and

fatigue. Some had great success with the drug. Since everyone is different,

I guess you don't know until you try.

in sinus in Seattle Day 32

June 23, 2002

<<I would like to get some feedback on the perceived effectiveness of

the drug Sotalol (Betapace)in the control of paroxysmal AF. I have

placed a table in the Database section of the board and would

appreciate responses from members of the group. If you have a few

spare minutes and have any experience of this drug, please make an

entry in the table.

Many Thanks

Dave>>

Dave,

60 out of 254 entries in my database

are either on or have tried sotalol

you may want to browse here...

http://www.dialsolutions.com/af/database/index.html?Adv=1 & _sotalol=1#results

--

D (33, Leeds, UK)

vagal AF for 24 hours every 16 days

AFibbers Database http://www.dialsolutions.com/af

AFib Support Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport

June 23, 2002

> I would like to get some feedback on the perceived effectiveness of

> the drug Sotalol (Betapace)in the control of paroxysmal AF. I have

> placed a table in the Database section of the board and would

> appreciate responses from members of the group. If you have a few

> spare minutes and have any experience of this drug, please make an

> entry in the table.

>

> Many Thanks

>

> Dave

Just started Sotalol here in the UK last Thursday. Now its

Sunday night and i feel absolutley knackered, legs ache, hope this

doesnt last, if so i feel another trip to the hospital will be

necessary

June 23, 2002

> > I would like to get some feedback on the perceived effectiveness

of

> > the drug Sotalol >

>

> Just started Sotalol here in the UK last Thursday. Now its

> Sunday night and i feel absolutley knackered, legs ache, hope this

> doesnt last, if so i feel another trip to the hospital will be

> necessary

Pete

What is your dose, what were you on previously and with what results?

Dave

June 23, 2002

> > I would like to get some feedback on the perceived effectiveness

of

> > the drug Sotalol >

>

> Just started Sotalol here in the UK last Thursday. Now its

> Sunday night and i feel absolutley knackered, legs ache, hope this

> doesnt last, if so i feel another trip to the hospital will be

> necessary

Pete

What is your dose, what were you on previously and with what results?

Dave

June 23, 2002

> > > I would like to get some feedback on the perceived

effectiveness

> of

> > > the drug Sotalol >

> >

> > Just started Sotalol here in the UK last Thursday. Now its

> > Sunday night and i feel absolutley knackered, legs ache, hope

this

> > doesnt last, if so i feel another trip to the hospital will be

> > necessary

>

> Pete

>

> What is your dose, what were you on previously and with what

results?

>

> Dave

Hi, my dose is 80mg/2 day= 160day.

Previous med was digoxin only, which was certainly not

controlling either rate or rythmn. I am going to see doc today,

although i believe this is out of her league, which makes things

difficult

June 23, 2002

> > > I would like to get some feedback on the perceived

effectiveness

> of

> > > the drug Sotalol >

> >

> > Just started Sotalol here in the UK last Thursday. Now its

> > Sunday night and i feel absolutley knackered, legs ache, hope

this

> > doesnt last, if so i feel another trip to the hospital will be

> > necessary

>

> Pete

>

> What is your dose, what were you on previously and with what

results?

>

> Dave

Hi, my dose is 80mg/2 day= 160day.

Previous med was digoxin only, which was certainly not

controlling either rate or rythmn. I am going to see doc today,

although i believe this is out of her league, which makes things

difficult

June 24, 2002

Hi Pete, sorry to hear your having such a bad time.

Two things here that need to be idenifield.

1. Being in AF can cause tiredness , shortness of breath and pains in the

Chest.extreme tiredness and lot of other nasty things.

2. Drugs can cause some of these problems but not in everybody. yes it is an

uphill struggle with Drs as they just wont believe you .

My Next door niebour had PAF but over periods of years, I mean that he would get

an attack every three years or so. He would be put on a course of Betablocker

for Six weeks and then go way and carry on as normal. In the period of taking

the drug he felt awful and would give up driving and sleep a lot. He reported

this to the DR who said this is not normal its the side effects of his heart

being in short spasms of AF. You just cannot win.

on the other hand Sotelol is a new drug its only been around for about 3-4 years

and I have seen good reports of this, the only common side effects I have heard

of is that you hands get very cold.

My advice is to try and find a medium that your heart is stable and the drug

your taking has relative side effects. Most Drs will tell you that you should

get back to 90-95% health but I would revise this down to around 80% when the

right meds are found.

What I think Dr refer to is that you get fed up moaning at them and go away and

just get on with it. In my case I did not realise how bad I felt.

Vicky any comment on my thoughts as it always good to get another prospective.

many regards

and I hope you feel a little better.

> effectiveness

> > of

> > > > the drug Sotalol >

> > >

> > > Just started Sotalol here in the UK last Thursday. Now its

> > > Sunday night and i feel absolutley knackered, legs ache, hope

> this

> > > doesnt last, if so i feel another trip to the hospital will be

> > > necessary

> >

> > Pete

> >

> > What is your dose, what were you on previously and with what

> results?

> >

> > Dave

>

> Hi, my dose is 80mg/2 day= 160day.

> Previous med was digoxin only, which was certainly not

> controlling either rate or rythmn. I am going to see doc today,

> although i believe this is out of her league, which makes things

> difficult

>

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If you are not the intended recipient, please advise the sender immediately

by reply e-mail and delete this message and any attachments

without retaining a copy.

**********************************************************************

June 24, 2002

Hi Pete, sorry to hear your having such a bad time.

Two things here that need to be idenifield.

1. Being in AF can cause tiredness , shortness of breath and pains in the

Chest.extreme tiredness and lot of other nasty things.

2. Drugs can cause some of these problems but not in everybody. yes it is an

uphill struggle with Drs as they just wont believe you .

My Next door niebour had PAF but over periods of years, I mean that he would get

an attack every three years or so. He would be put on a course of Betablocker

for Six weeks and then go way and carry on as normal. In the period of taking

the drug he felt awful and would give up driving and sleep a lot. He reported

this to the DR who said this is not normal its the side effects of his heart

being in short spasms of AF. You just cannot win.

on the other hand Sotelol is a new drug its only been around for about 3-4 years

and I have seen good reports of this, the only common side effects I have heard

of is that you hands get very cold.

My advice is to try and find a medium that your heart is stable and the drug

your taking has relative side effects. Most Drs will tell you that you should

get back to 90-95% health but I would revise this down to around 80% when the

right meds are found.

What I think Dr refer to is that you get fed up moaning at them and go away and

just get on with it. In my case I did not realise how bad I felt.

Vicky any comment on my thoughts as it always good to get another prospective.

many regards

and I hope you feel a little better.

> effectiveness

> > of

> > > > the drug Sotalol >

> > >

> > > Just started Sotalol here in the UK last Thursday. Now its

> > > Sunday night and i feel absolutley knackered, legs ache, hope

> this

> > > doesnt last, if so i feel another trip to the hospital will be

> > > necessary

> >

> > Pete

> >

> > What is your dose, what were you on previously and with what

> results?

> >

> > Dave

>

> Hi, my dose is 80mg/2 day= 160day.

> Previous med was digoxin only, which was certainly not

> controlling either rate or rythmn. I am going to see doc today,

> although i believe this is out of her league, which makes things

> difficult

>

**********************************************************************

This message may contain information which is confidential or privileged.

If you are not the intended recipient, please advise the sender immediately

by reply e-mail and delete this message and any attachments

without retaining a copy.

**********************************************************************

June 24, 2002

Re: Efficacy of Sotalol (Betapace)

> Frances,

> I think that Flecainide works similarly to a beta blocker but with

> electrophysiological properties although I am not sure about that. I am

sure

> that Dofetilide is a potassium channel blocker because my cardiologist

told

> me that. Also, Sotalol is a beta blocker type with electrophysiological

> properties, according to my cardiologist.

I don' think flecainide has beta blocking properties. I think that is why it

usually works better for vagal sufferers.

" Flecainide has weak vagolytic actions while propafenone has some

beta-blocking properties (which vary with dose and genetic metabolic

pattern). " "

I just did a search as I was sure that flecainide was a sodium channel

blocker. It actually depresses it

http://www.accessiblemedicine.co.uk/medloc/dos918doc6.htm

" The characterisation of flecainide as a Class IC compound is based on a

triad of features: marked depression of the fast sodium channel in the

heart; slow onset and offset kinetics of inhibition of the sodium channel

(reflecting slow attachment to and dissociation from sodium channels); and

the differential effect of the drug on the action potential duration in

ventricular muscle versus Purkinje fibres, having no effect in the former

and markedly shortening it in the latter. This composite of properties leads

to a marked depression in conduction velocity in fibres dependant on the

fast-channel fibres for depolarisation but with a modest increase in the

effective refractory period when tested in isolated cardiac tissues. These

electrophysiological properties of flecainide may lead to prolongation of

the PR-interval and QRS duration on the ECG. At very high concentrations

flecainide exerts a weak depressant effect on the slow channel in the

myocardium. This is accompanied by a negative inotropic effect. Flecainide

has no significant interaction with the autonomic nervous system. The drug

does not appear to have a measurable effect on coronary, pulmonary or other

regional circulations. "

I think now I can see why I got on better with it. It has no significent

interaction with the autonomic nervous syste. Something that is out of whack

with me and seems to get affected with most things I take.

FRan

June 24, 2002