Therapeutic and metabolic effects of sotalol

In a single-blind, randomized study, the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of sotalol, 40 to 160 mg/day, in six patients with mild essential hypertension were compared to those of placebo at rest and during submaximal dynamic exercise. Resting blood pressure was controlled by sotalol but not the pressor response to exercise, despite reduction of tachycardia. The major metabolic finding on sotalol was an approximately 40% decrease in lipid mobilization during exercise. Alterations in muscle lactate concentrations were much like those caused by other beta-blockers. Plasma concentrations of norepinephrine and epinephrine were doubled during exercise on sotalol, epinephrine disposition more so. No effects on serum lipoproteins were observed after 6 wk on sotalol in therapeutic doses. Despite its special electrophysiologic properties, sotalol appears to induce the same cardiovascular and metabolic changes during exercise as do other beta-blockers.