tenormin for svt and extra systole plus sotalol

[bigkev414]

Hi
I posted a couple of weeks go but didn't get any replies....I had my first run of AF which lasted 12 hours and I went to the ER. It reverted on its own. I have a history of SVT but this has been pretty well controlled by Atenalol.
In the hospital the cardiologist told me to stop the atenalol immediately and start sotolol, 20mg 1/2 tab morning and night for the AF.
Since I have started I don't feel real well, and have started having the odd extra systole and short runs of svt - just maybe for a few seconds.
I asked my regular doctor if I can still take low dose atenalol as well as the sotolol just when I sense I need it...I get a warning like a panic attack, and then the extra systoles start - maybe every ten beats. He was a bit hesitant, but murmured that it should be OK.
HELP please - I read that you mustn't stop the atenalol cold or your problems can return - and they have. I see the cardiologist in 2 weeks for  follow up, but he sees 10 patients an hour t $270 a time and doesn't know my history.
What experiences have you had and what do you guys think? I'm 71 by the way.
thanks

[bigkev414]

An update - went to the regular doc Thursday because I felt so rotten on the Sotoalol. They did an ECG and it was fine like I knew it would be, and we decided to reduce the dosage of the Xeralto because I was bleeding from all over the place, and ditch the Sotalol and go back on the Tenormin like I have been for 15 years.
We'll do another ECG on Monday and ifthingsare OK will stick to that.
He said - we'll do it and tell the cardiologist later. I already feel much better.I think Sotalol has a lot of unpleasant side affects. Let's hope things return to 'normal'. Will keep you posted and thanks for the replies. Kev

[bigkev414]

Hi Cher - thanks for the reply. Today I feel like I've been run over by a truck (again) aches around my chest, arms, tingling fingers, shoulders, puffing like an old locomotive, he'd swims, shakes and that's just the good stuff. Some 'missing beats thumps' too. again.
To hell with the Sotalol. I'm going to stop taking it and go back onto the atenalol. At least I know what it does and how much to take. I can't get a definitive answer about taking a smaller dose of Sotalol accompanied with some tenor min, and have only ever had one episode of AF.
I can't see his excellency the cardiologist 'demi God' for another 10 days and this is no good. I've had arrhythmia (SVT's) for over 15 years. He's known me for approximately 4 minutes, and has no idea of my history.
If anybody knows a good reason why I shouldn't stop the Sotalol please tell me.
cheers all/ Kev

[cher613]

Hi Bigkev, I've been on 2 Beta Blockers and am not happy with either one of them. I went to the hospital over a year ago because I felt I was having a Heart Attack , my heart was flopping and then went into racing. They said i had AFIB . It took more than 24 hours to get it back to normal . They put me on Sotolol which made me feel tired , dizzy, and out of breath all the time. I stopped the meds and went to a new doctor who put me on Metoprolol Succ ER 50 mg which is making me feel worse than the Sotolol. Any little exertion what so ever makes me out of breath . If I lift anything the least bit heavy and struggle to breath. Forget about exercising, I can't walk 10 feet without feeling out of breath and like my circulation is slow. I can't stand how these doctors put you on strong meds like these and tell ya to keep taking it till your next appointment even though you feel like crap and can't breath. My arms hurt, my neck, my leg muscles. I was told not to cut the pill in half by the Pharmacist and then my doctors nurse called and said cut it in half . I waited all morning for them to call back and felt withdrawal , tingling all over my body , head , dizziness . So I took the 50 mg again today. It feels as though these doctors don't really care what your going through. They are so busy and just prescribe pills left and right and send you on your way to deal with it.
Theres lots of Meds out there, we just have to find the right ones for us.

Cher

[MichelleP_3811]

Beta blockers do nothing to stop svt.  They can slow the heart rate down when an episode occurs but beta blocker only help some with ectopic beats.  it doesn't keep all of them away either but beta blockers take some of the stress off the heart and helps the patient feel better.  The only real cure for svt is an ablation.  Accessory pathway svts are highly curable with extremely low reoccurnce or complications.  Take care.

[bigkev414]

thanks for the advice - you're right about the stress, I think this is at the bottom of it all. The doctors stick to each other like 'poop' to a blanket as we Aussies say, so they do get frustrating.
I was going quite well for a couple of years with hardly an attack of PSVT with the Tenormin, but just woke up that morning with the AF. I thought it was 'the usual', but it was irregular instead of just fast, and didn't revert after I did the usual tricks and took a valium etc, and it turned out to be AF. They think it was probably a 'one off' that people often get, but not sure. Of anything.
I discussed the ablation years ago but the tablets controlled it so well that we all decided not to go that way. I know two fellas who had them and they didn't work either.
I'll try to 'chill' and hope it passes. Thanks again

[MichelleP_3811]

As a side note it drives me crazy when doctors say things like it Should be fine without explaining why.  They say the word should because they can't really talk in absolutes or they set themselves up for lawsuits but he could have explained better that you were just swapping beta blockers but by not explaining people naturally can fall into fear and panic especially with the use of the word should.  It leaves the door open for horrible things to happen when the odds are very low that they will.  But the mind can have a tendency to wander and panic when it comes to issues with the heart so just try to find your center and see how you feel.  Take care.

[MichelleP_3811]

I honestly can't give you advice on the meds because I never took them, even for my svt, I was told they really don't do anything.  I would like to ask what kind of svt you have.  Have you been offered an ablation to try and correct it for good?  If you have one that is correctable you may be able to also cure yourself of afib.  If it is possible for your ablation to be corrected you might want to consider it though you would need good insurance because it is a bit expensive but worth a shot to look into if things are deteriorating towards afib.

I did look up sotolol and it appears to just be another form of beta blocker so I would think that you aren't really quitting the atenolol cold turkey because you are just trading it for a different beta blocker.  The extra ectopic activity could be due to stress and anxiety over the afib and hospital visit.  Stress and anxiety do bring them on more acutely so try and zen out a bit and see if things calm down.  If you continue to have a lot of ectopics then contact your doctor for further advice.  Take care and feel better soon.