Drug NameBetapace (Sotalol) Drug UsesBetapace is used for treating certain types of irregular heartbeat (ventricular arrhythmias). It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor. How to useUse Betapace as directed by your doctor.
- Take Betapace by mouth with or without food. Try to take it the same way (either with food or without food) each time you take your dose. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about taking Betapace with food.
- Do not take an antacid that has aluminum or magnesium in it within 2 hours before or after you take Betapace.
- Taking Betapace at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
- Continue to use Betapace even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Betapace. Drug Class and MechanismBetapace belongs to a group of medicines called beta-Betapace is a beta-blocker. It works by helping the heart beat regularly for a longer period of time. Missed DoseIf you miss a dose of Betapace and are taking it regularly, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. Storage Store Betapace at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep in a tight, light-resistant container. Keep Betapace out of the reach of children and away from pets. Possible Side EffectsCheck with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:
- dizziness; drowsiness; headache; light-headedness; tiredness; trouble sleeping.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these severe side effects occur:
- severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormally fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; changes in vision; decreased appetite; excessive thirst; numbness of an arm or leg; severe or persistent nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; severe stomach pain; sharp or crushing chest pain; sudden leg pain; sudden severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, or fainting; sudden shortness of breath; unusual sweating.
More InformationBetapace is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor. Warnings/PrecautionsDo not use Betapace if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Betapace;
- you have certain heart problems (e.g., severe low heart rate, uncontrolled heart failure, certain types of abnormal heartbeat rhythm), low blood potassium or magnesium levels, severe kidney problems, or a history of asthma;
- you are taking cisapride, astemizole, terfenadine, mibefradil, dofetilide, or a theophylline (e.g., aminophylline).
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Important :
- Betapace may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Betapace with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Betapace may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Betapace before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- Do not suddenly stop taking Betapace . Sharp chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and sometimes heart attack may occur if you suddenly stop Betapace . The risk may be greater if you have certain types of heart disease. Heart disease is common and you may not know you have it. Your doctor should slowly lower your dose over several weeks if you need to stop taking it. Limit physical activity while you are lowering your dose. If new or worsened chest pain or other heart problems occur, contact your doctor right away. You may need to start taking Betapace again.
- Lab tests, including heart function, kidney function, and blood pressure monitoring, may be performed while you use Betapace. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Betapace while you are pregnant. This medicine is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Betapace.
What is Betapace (sotalol)?
Sotalol is in a group of drugs called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins).
Sotalol is used to help keep the heart beating normally in people with certain heart rhythm disorders of the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow out of the heart). Sotalol is used in people with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
Another form of this medicine, called Sotalol AF, is used to treat heart rhythm disorders of the atrium (the upper chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow into the heart). Sotalol AF is used in people with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Sotalol (Betapace and Sorine) is not used for the same conditions that sotalol AF (Betapace AF) is used for.
Sotalol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Betapace (sotalol)?
You will receive your first few doses of sotalol in a hospital setting where your heart rhythm can be monitored, in case the medication causes serious side effects.
If there are any changes in the brand or strength of sotalol you use, your dosage needs may change. Betapace and Sorine are not used for the same conditions that Betapace AF is used for. Always check your medicine when it is refilled to make sure you have received the correct brand and type as prescribed by your doctor. Ask the pharmacist if you have any questions about the medicine given to you at the pharmacy.
Do not skip doses or stop taking sotalol without first talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.
If you need to have any type of surgery, you may need to temporarily stop using sotalol. Be sure the surgeon knows ahead of time that you are using sotalol.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Betapace (sotalol)?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to sotalol, or if you have:
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asthma;
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certain heart conditions, especially "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker);
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a history of "Long QT syndrome"; or
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severe or uncontrolled congestive heart failure.
Before using sotalol, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
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breathing problems such as bronchitis or emphysema;
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a history of heart disease or congestive heart failure;
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diabetes;
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kidney disease;
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a thyroid disorder;
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an electrolyte imbalance such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood; or
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if you have recently had a heart attack.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use sotalol, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Sotalol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take Betapace (sotalol)?
You will receive your first few doses of sotalol in a hospital setting where your heart can be monitored in case the medication causes serious side effects.
Take sotalol exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
If there are any changes in the brand or strength of sotalol you use, your dosage needs may change. Betapace and Sorine are not used for the same conditions that Betapace AF is used for. Always check your medicine when it is refilled to make sure you have received the correct brand and type as prescribed by your doctor. Ask the pharmacist if you have any questions about the medicine given to you at the pharmacy.
Take this medication with a full glass of water.
Take sotalol at the same time every day.
Do not skip doses or stop taking sotalol without first talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.
Tell your doctor if you have an illness that involves diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than a few hours. Prolonged diarrhea or vomiting can lower your potassium levels, making it dangerous for you to use sotalol.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be checked on a regular basis. Your heart and kidney function will also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using sotalol.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon that you are using sotalol. You may need to briefly stop using sotalol before having surgery.
Store sotalol at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If your next dose is less than 8 hours away, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a sotalol overdose may include slow or fast heartbeats, shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling, hunger, weakness, confusion, sweating, feeling light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid while taking Betapace (sotalol)?
Do not take an antacid within 2 hours before or after taking sotalol. Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the specific type of antacid your doctor recommends. Antacids contain different medicines and some types can make it harder for your body to absorb sotalol.
Betapace (sotalol) side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
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fast or pounding heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath;
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feeling light-headed, fainting;
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slow heartbeat;
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unusual sweating, increased thirst; or
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swelling, rapid weight gain.
Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
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mild diarrhea, nausea, vomiting;
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headache;
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sleep problems (insomnia); or
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tired feeling.
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 Betapace (sotalol)?
Before taking sotalol, tell your doctor if you are using:
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clonidine (Catapres);
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digoxin (digitalis, Digitek, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin);
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guanethidine (Ismelin);
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reserpine;
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a diuretic (water pill);
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drugs that can affect heart rhythm, such as bepridil (Vascor), cisapride (Propulsid), droperidol (Inapsine), methadone (Methadose), pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam);
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any other heart rhythm medications, especially amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Procan), quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute), sotalol (Betapace);
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antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), dirithromycin (Dynabac), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Erythrocin, Ery-Tab), telithromycin (Ketek);
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medicines to treat psychiatric disorder, such as pimozide (Orap), haloperidol (Haldol), thioridazine (Mellaril);
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a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), mesoridazine (Serentil), thioridazine (Mellaril), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), trifluoperazine (Stelazine);
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antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), trimipramine (Surmontil);
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a diabetes medication such as insulin, glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), metformin (Glucophage);
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a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), nimodipine (Nimotop), nisoldipine (Sular), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); or
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medicine for asthma other breathing disorders, such as albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil), bitolterol (Tornalate), metaproterenol (Alupent), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl), and theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take sotalol, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect sotalol. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist has additional information about sotalol written for health professionals that you may read.
What does my medication look like?
Sotalol is available with a prescription under the brand names Betapace, Betapace AF, and Sorine. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Sotalol (Betapace and Sorine) is not used for the same conditions that Betapace AF (Sotalol AF) is used for. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
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Betapace 80 mg--light-blue, capsule-shaped tablets
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Betapace 120 mg--light-blue, capsule-shaped tablets
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Betapace 160 mg--light-blue, capsule-shaped tablets
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Betapace 240 mg--light-blue, capsule-shaped tablets
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