Betapace vs. Cordarone

• Are Betapace and Cordarone the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Betapace?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Cordarone?
• What Is Betapace?
• What Is Cordarone?
• What drugs interact with Betapace?
• What drugs interact with Cordarone?
• How Should Betapace Be Taken?
• How Should Cordarone Be Taken?

 

Betapace (sotalol) and Cordarone (amiodarone) are used for treating ventricular arrhythmias.

Cordarone is also used to treat atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Betapace and Cordarone belong to different drug classes. Betapace is a beta-blocker and Cordarone is an antiarrhythmic drug.

Side effects of Betapace and Cordarone that are similar include dizziness, fatigue, weakness, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset or pain, and sleep problems (insomnia).

Side effects of Betapace that are different from Cordarone include headache, indigestion, slow heart rate, chest pain, palpitations, diarrhea, pain in your arms or legs, and decreased sexual ability.

Side effects of Cordarone that are different from Betapace include constipation, weight loss, lung scarring (pulmonary fibrosis), heart block, heart failure, shaking or tremor, numbness and tingling, loss of appetite, lack of coordination, and flushing (warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin).

Both Betapace and Cordarone may interact with digoxin.

Betapace may also interact with amiodarone, ketoconazole, itraconazole, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, beta-agonists, tricyclic antidepressants, insulin or oral diabetes medicines, blood pressure medications, other medicines that contain sotalol, and antacids containing aluminum or magnesium.

Cordarone may also interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, St. John's wort, flecainide, phenytoin, procainamide, statins, and blood thinners.

Side effects of Betapace include:

• headache,
• indigestion,
• dizziness,
• fatigue,
• weakness,
• tiredness,
• slow heart rate,
• chest pain,
• palpitations,
• diarrhea,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• pain in your arms or legs, or
• decreased sexual ability.

Common side effects of Cordarone include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Heart block
• Heart failure
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Shaking or tremor
• Numbness and tingling
• Stomach pain
• Loss of appetite
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Weakness
• Lack of coordination
• Warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Cordarone including:

• easy bruising or bleeding,
• loss of coordination,
• tingling or numbness of the hands or feet,
• uncontrolled movements, or
• new or worsening symptoms of heart failure (such as ankle or leg swelling, increased tiredness, increased shortness of breath when lying down).

Betapace (sotalol) is an antiarrhythmic agent used for treating ventricular arrhythmias. Betapace is available in generic form.

Cordarone (amiodarone) is an antiarrhythmic drug used for many serious arrhythmias of the heart including ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and atrial flutter.

 

Betapace may interact with amiodarone, ketoconazole, itraconazole, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, beta-agonists, tricyclic antidepressants, and antacids containing aluminum or magnesium.

Cordarone may interact with beta-blockers and certain calcium channel blockers resulting in an excessively slow heart rate or a block in the conduction of the electrical impulse through the heart. Cordarone increases the blood levels of digoxin, flecainide, phenytoin, and procainamide. Cordarone interacts with warfarin and increases the risk of bleeding. Amiodarone can interact with simvastatin, atorvastatin, and lovastatin, increasing the risk of severe muscle breakdown and kidney failure or liver disease. Cordarone is harmful to the fetus and to infants. It should not be administered during pregnancy and women should not breastfeed while taking Cordarone.

 

The recommended dose for adults is 80 to 160 mg twice daily.

Dosing varies depending on indication.