Sotalol (Intravenous)

Sotalol injection is used to treat a serious heart rhythm issue known as ventricular arrhythmia. It is also used to treat heart rhythm issues called atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.

Sotalol is a beta-blocker. It works by influencing how nerve signals affect certain areas of the body, including the heart. This leads to a slower and more regular heartbeat.

This medicine should only be given by your doctor or under their direct supervision.

It is very important for your doctor to monitor your progress while you are taking this medicine to ensure it is working correctly. You will need blood, urine, and ECG tests to check for any unwanted effects.

Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your heart rhythm. You may experience dizziness or faintness, or you might have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you or anyone in your family has ever had a heart rhythm issue, such as QT prolongation.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting can happen, especially when you stand up quickly from lying down or sitting. These symptoms are more likely to occur when you start using this medicine or when your dose is increased. Getting up slowly may help.

Sotalol may cause heart failure in some patients. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience chest pain or discomfort, swollen neck veins, extreme fatigue, irregular breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swelling in your face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, or weight gain.

This medicine can cause a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and needs immediate medical attention. Inform your doctor or nurse right away if you develop a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, difficulty swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while using this medicine.

This medicine may affect your blood sugar levels. It may also mask signs of low blood sugar, such as a fast pulse. Talk to your doctor if you have these issues or if you see a change in your blood or urine sugar test results.

Before any type of surgery (including dental surgery) or emergency treatment, inform the medical doctor or dentist that you are taking this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless you have discussed them with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the drug must be weighed against the beneficial it will do. This is a decision you and your clinician will make. For this drug, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this drug or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of sotalol injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

No guidance is available on the relationship of age to the effects of sotalol injection in elderly patients. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney disease, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving sotalol injection.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this drug during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential chances prior to using this medicine while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medications

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medications may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your clinician may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medicine or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Bepridil
• Cisapride
• Dronedarone
• Fingolimod
• Grepafloxacin
• Levoketoconazole
• Levomethadyl
• Mesoridazine
• Pimozide
• Piperaquine
• Saquinavir
• Sparfloxacin
• Terfenadine
• Thioridazine
• Vernakalant
• Ziprasidone

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is usually not advised, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how frequently you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acecainide
• Acetazolamide
• Adagrasib
• Albuterol
• Alfuzosin
• Amiloride
• Amiodarone
• Amisulpride
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Anagrelide
• Apomorphine
• Arformoterol
• Aripiprazole
• Aripiprazole Lauroxil
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Artemether
• Asenapine
• Astemizole
• Atazanavir
• Azithromycin
• Azosemide
• Bambuterol
• Bedaquiline
• Bemetizide
• Bendroflumethiazide
• Benzthiazide
• Bitolterol
• Broxaterol
• Bumetanide
• Buprenorphine
• Buserelin
• Canrenoate
• Ceritinib
• Chloral Hydrate
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Chlorthalidone
• Ciprofloxacin
• Citalopram
• Clarithromycin
• Clenbuterol
• Clofazimine
• Clomipramine
• Clonidine
• Clopamide
• Clothiapine
• Clozapine
• Colterol
• Crizotinib
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Cyclothiazide
• Dabrafenib
• Darunavir
• Dasatinib
• Degarelix
• Delamanid
• Desipramine
• Deslorelin
• Deutetrabenazine
• Dexmedetomidine
• Dibenzepin
• Digoxin
• Diltiazem
• Disopyramide
• Dofetilide
• Dolasetron
• Domperidone
• Donepezil
• Doxepin
• Droperidol
• Ebastine
• Efavirenz
• Eliglustat
• Encainide
• Encorafenib
• Enflurane
• Entrectinib
• Epinephrine
• Eribulin
• Erythromycin
• Escitalopram
• Ethacrynic Acid
• Etozolin
• Etrasimod
• Famotidine
• Felbamate
• Fenoldopam
• Fenoterol
• Fenquizone
• Fexinidazole
• Flecainide
• Fluconazole
• Fluoxetine
• Formoterol
• Foscarnet
• Fosphenytoin
• Fostemsavir
• Furosemide
• Galantamine
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Gepirone
• Glasdegib
• Gonadorelin
• Goserelin
• Granisetron
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Halothane
• Hexoprenaline
• Histrelin
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Hydroflumethiazide
• Hydroquinidine
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Hydroxyzine
• Ibutilide
• Iloperidone
• Imipramine
• Indacaterol
• Indapamide
• Indecainide
• Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
• Iobenguane I 131
• Iohexol
• Isoetharine
• Isoflurane
• Isradipine
• Itraconazole
• Ivabradine
• Ivosidenib
• Ketoconazole
• Lacosamide
• Lapatinib
• Lefamulin
• Lenvatinib
• Leuprolide
• Levalbuterol
• Levofloxacin
• Lidocaine
• Lidoflazine
• Lofexidine
• Lopinavir
• Lumefantrine
• Macimorelin
• Mannitol
• Mefloquine
• Metaproterenol
• Methadone
• Methotrimeprazine
• Metolazone
• Metronidazole
• Mexiletine
• Mifepristone
• Mirtazapine
• Mizolastine
• Moricizine
• Moxifloxacin
• Nafarelin
• Nelfinavir
• Nilotinib
• Norfloxacin
• Nortriptyline
• Octreotide
• Ofloxacin
• Olanzapine
• Olodaterol
• Ondansetron
• Osilodrostat
• Osimertinib
• Oxaliplatin
• Oxymetazoline
• Ozanimod
• Pacritinib
• Paliperidone
• Panobinostat
• Papaverine
• Paroxetine
• Pasireotide
• Pazopanib
• Pentamidine
• Perphenazine
• Phenobarbital
• Pimavanserin
• Pipamperone
• Pirbuterol
• Piretanide
• Pitolisant
• Polythiazide
• Ponesimod
• Posaconazole
• Prilocaine
• Primidone
• Probucol
• Procainamide
• Procaterol
• Prochlorperazine
• Promethazine
• Propafenone
• Protriptyline
• Quetiapine
• Quinethazone
• Quinidine
• Quinine
• Quizartinib
• Ranolazine
• Relugolix
• Reproterol
• Ribociclib
• Rimiterol
• Risperidone
• Ritodrine
• Ritonavir
• Rivastigmine
• Salmeterol
• Selpercatinib
• Sertindole
• Sertraline
• Sevoflurane
• Siponimod
• Sodium Phosphate
• Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
• Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
• Solifenacin
• Sorafenib
• Spiramycin
• Spironolactone
• Sulfamethoxazole
• Sulpiride
• Sultopride
• Sunitinib
• Tacrolimus
• Tamoxifen
• Telaprevir
• Telavancin
• Telithromycin
• Terbutaline
• Tetrabenazine
• Ticrynafen
• Tocainide
• Tolterodine
• Toremifene
• Torsemide
• Trazodone
• Tretoquinol
• Triamterene
• Trichlormethiazide
• Triclabendazole
• Trifluoperazine
• Trimethoprim
• Trimipramine
• Triptorelin
• Tulobuterol
• Vandetanib
• Vardenafil
• Vemurafenib
• Venlafaxine
• Verapamil
• Vilanterol
• Vinflunine
• Voclosporin
• Voriconazole
• Vorinostat
• Xipamide
• Zolmitriptan
• Zotepine
• Zuclopenthixol

Using this medication with any of the following medicines may cause an increased chance of certain adverse effects, but using both drugs may be the best therapy for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your physician may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the drugs.

• Abarelix
• Acarbose
• Aceclofenac
• Acemetacin
• Albiglutide
• Alogliptin
• Amtolmetin Guacil
• Aspirin
• Bromfenac
• Bufexamac
• Bunazosin
• Canagliflozin
• Celecoxib
• Chlorpropamide
• Choline Salicylate
• Clonixin
• Dapagliflozin
• Dexibuprofen
• Dexketoprofen
• Diclofenac
• Diflunisal
• Dipyrone
• Doxazosin
• Droxicam
• Dulaglutide
• Empagliflozin
• Ertugliflozin
• Etodolac
• Etofenamate
• Etoricoxib
• Exenatide
• Felbinac
• Fenoprofen
• Fepradinol
• Feprazone
• Floctafenine
• Flufenamic Acid
• Flurbiprofen
• Glimepiride
• Glipizide
• Glyburide
• Ibuprofen
• Indomethacin
• Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
• Insulin Degludec
• Insulin Detemir
• Insulin Glargine, Recombinant
• Insulin Glulisine
• Insulin Human Inhaled
• Insulin Human Isophane (NPH)
• Insulin Human Regular
• Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
• Ketoprofen
• Ketorolac
• Linagliptin
• Liraglutide
• Lixisenatide
• Lornoxicam
• Loxoprofen
• Lumiracoxib
• Meclofenamate
• Mefenamic Acid
• Meloxicam
• Metformin
• Methyldopa
• Miglitol
• Morniflumate
• Moxisylyte
• Nabumetone
• Naproxen
• Nateglinide
• Nepafenac
• Niflumic Acid
• Nimesulide
• Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
• Oxaprozin
• Oxyphenbutazone
• Parecoxib
• Phenoxybenzamine
• Phentolamine
• Phenylbutazone
• Piketoprofen
• Pioglitazone
• Piroxicam
• Pramlintide
• Pranoprofen
• Prazosin
• Proglumetacin
• Propyphenazone
• Proquazone
• Repaglinide
• Rofecoxib
• Rosiglitazone
• Salicylic Acid
• Salsalate
• Saxagliptin
• Sitagliptin
• Sodium Salicylate
• St John's Wort
• Sulindac
• Tamsulosin
• Tenoxicam
• Terazosin
• Tiaprofenic Acid
• Tolazamide
• Tolbutamide
• Tolfenamic Acid
• Tolmetin
• Trimazosin
• Urapidil
• Valdecoxib
• Vildagliptin

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain drugs should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medications may additionally cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical issues may affect the use of this medication. Make sure you inform your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Angina (serious chest pain) or
• Heart attack, recent or
• Heart disease or
• Heart failure, history of or
• Heart rhythm issue (eg, QT prolongation) or
• Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels in the blood) or
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Asthma or
• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat), without a pacemaker or
• Bronchospasm or
• Cardiogenic shock (shock caused by heart attack) or
• Heart block, without a pacemaker or
• Heart failure, uncontrolled or
• Heart rhythm problem (eg, long QT syndrome) or
• Hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood) or
• Kidney disease, severe or
• Sick sinus syndrome (type of abnormal heart rhythm), without pacemaker—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

• Diabetes or
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)—Use with caution. May cover up some of the symptoms of these diseases, such as a fast heartbeat.

• Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may occur, but if they do, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Blurred vision
• chest pain, discomfort, or tightness
• confusion
• difficult or labored breathing
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
• increased sweating
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• sweating
• swelling
• trouble breathing
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

• Arm, back, or jaw pain
• body aches or pain
• chest heaviness
• chills
• cold hands and feet
• cough
• decreased urine output
• diarrhea
• difficulty with breathing
• difficulty with speaking
• dilated neck veins
• dizziness
• double vision
• ear congestion
• fainting
• fever
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• headache
• inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
• inability to speak
• irregular breathing
• joint pain
• loss of appetite
• loss of voice
• muscle aches and pains
• nausea
• nervousness
• noisy breathing
• pounding in the ears
• runny or stuffy nose
• shivering
• slow speech
• sneezing
• sore throat
• swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
• trouble sleeping
• vomiting
• weight gain

Incidence not known

• Black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blood in the urine or stools
• blue lips and fingernails
• coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
• difficult, fast, or noisy breathing
• increased sweating
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swelling in the legs and ankles
• swollen glands
• unusual bleeding or bruising

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

• Anxiety
• blurred vision
• chest pain or discomfort
• cold sweats
• confusion
• cool, pale skin
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• depression
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• increased hunger
• nightmares
• seizures
• shakiness
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• slurred speech
• sweating
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

• Abnormal ejaculation
• back pain
• bloated feeling
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles," or tingling feelings
• decreased appetite
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
• full feeling
• inability to have or keep an erection
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• muscle or bone pain
• passing gas
• rash
• stomach distension

Incidence not known

• Hair loss or thinning of the hair
• itching skin
• loss or thinning of the hair
• muscle aches, cramps, pains, or stiffness
• pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed
• severe sunburn
• swollen joints

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antiarrhythmic, Group III

Pharmacologic Class: Beta-Adrenergic Blocker, Nonselective

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.

Your doctor will give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then switch you to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.

• What's the difference between Sotalol and Sotalol AF?