Patient was educated on contraindication for using Sotalol as follows:
- Avoid using Sotalol along with any other medications that can cause slowdown of heart rate, such as, Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Using them together can result in extreme slowdown of heart rate and can present an emergency.
- Avoid or use extreme caution using Sotalol along with any other medications that can cause reduced force of contraction of the heart muscle, such as, calcium channel blockers. Using them together can result in exacerbation of symptoms of heart failure along with episodes of extremely low BP and can present an emergency.
- Sotalol is contraindicated in individuals with abnormally slow heart rates, such as, in individuals with damaged natural pacemaker of the heart.
- Sotalol is contraindicated in individuals with history of asthma, COPD, and with any other issues resulting in episodes of difficulty breathing.
- Sotalol undergoes minimal metabolism in the liver and is largely excreted unchanged by the kidneys. Individuals with renal disease cannot excrete Sotalol normally. Sotalol can stay in circulation for longer time and can be toxic in such individuals. Sotalol should be used with caution in individuals with compromised renal function. Sotalol also has the potential to cause damage to the liver function.
