About Sotalol

Sotalol belongs to a group of medicines called beta blockers.

It slows down your heart rate and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.

It's used to treat atrial fibrillation and other conditions that cause an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).

This medicine is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets.

Key facts

• Sotalol starts to work after about 4 hours, but it can take 2 to 3 days to work fully.
• Your first dose may make you feel dizzy, so take it at bedtime. After that, if you do not feel dizzy, you can take it in the morning.
• The main side effects of sotalol are feeling dizzy or sick, feeling tired, having diarrhoea or a headache. These are usually mild and do not last long. You're more likely to have side effects if you're on a very high dose.
• Do not drive or ride a bike if sotalol makes you feel dizzy or tired. It's also best not to drink alcohol if you feel dizzy.
• You'll need regular blood tests while taking sotalol, to check that your kidneys are healthy, and to check you have the right amounts of potassium and magnesium in your blood.

Sexual Health Advice

• Sexual Health Advice - Introduction and Overview
• The MenB vaccine that helps protect against gonorrhoea
• Sexual Health - Mpox and its dangers for Gay Men
• What happens when you visit an STI Clinic
• Ejaculation issues are common sexual problems in men
• The Male Menopause for men in their late 40s to early 50s
• Help and care if you have been Sexually Assaulted
• Mental health issues and self-harm are common amongst gay men