• Do not confuse sotalol with Sudafed (pseudoephedrine).

• Patients should be hospitalized and monitored for arrhythmias for at least 3 days during initiation of therapy and dose increases.

» Do not substitute Betapace for Betapace AF. Make sure patients transferred from Betapace to Betapace AF have enough Betapace AF upon leaving the hospital to allow for uninterrupted therapy until Betapace AF prescription can be filled.

• PO: Take apical pulse prior to administering. If <50 bpm or if arrhythmia occurs, withhold medication and notify health care professional.

» Administer on an empty stomach, 1 hr before or 2 hr after meals. Administration with food, especially milk or milk products, reduces absorption by approximately 20%.

» Avoid administering antacids containing aluminum or magnesium within 2 hr before administration of sotalol.

» For patients unable to swallow pills, pharmacist can convert tablets to a solution.

• IV: IV formulation should only be used in patients who are NPO.

• pH:
6.0–7.0.

• Intermittent Infusion:

Diluent: Dilute with 100–250 mL of 0.9% NaCl, D5W, or LR.For 75 mg dose, dilute with 114 mL or 294 mL for 100 mL or 250 mL volume, respectively. For 112.5 mg dose, dilute with 111 mL or 291 mL for 100 mL or 250 mL volume, respectively. For 150 mg dose, dilute with 108 mL or 288 mL for 100 mL or 250 mL volume, respectively.

• Rate: Infuse over 5 hr using a volumetric infusion pump to infuse intravenous at a constant rate.