Antacids and sotalol absorption

The effect of concurrent administration of antacids on the relative bioavailability of sotalol has been examined in five healthy volunteers. Each subject received an oral 160 mg dose after an overnight fast in four different experimental schedules. Venous blood samples were drawn 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 24, and 32 hours after the drug administration, and sotalol concentrations were determined fluorometrically. The results show that concurrent administration of calcium carbonate or aluminum hydroxide with sotalol has negligible pharmacokinetic consequences. The adsorption of sotalol onto magnesium hydroxide leads to somewhat decreased bioavailability but in long term use the phenomenon is not likely to be of clinical importance.