title: Sotalol.
abstract: Sotalol is a novel antiarrhythmic agent combining beta-adrenergic-antagonist actions with the ability to increase cardiac repolarization and refractoriness. The drug's electrophysiologic and clinical profile is different from that of conventional beta-receptor antagonists. As compared with other antiarrhythmic agents, sotalol prevents recurrences of arrhythmia in a higher proportion of patients, particularly among those presenting with ventricular tachycardia and aborted sudden cardiac death. The net hemodynamic effect of sotalol is the result of a balance between the depressant effects due to beta-receptor blockade and an action that tends to increase contractility. Although initially marketed in the United States for treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, sotalol also has demonstrated efficacy in many patients with supraventricular arrhythmias. As with all drugs that prolong the QT interval, the syndrome of torsade de pointes is a serious potential adverse effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hohnloser
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Woosley
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D013015:Sotalol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000188:drug therapy; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D013015:Sotalol