BETAPACE, BETAPACE AF

What is this medication? Betapace and Betapace AF are prescription medications containing sotalol, which is an antiarrhythmic drug used to manage irregular heartbeats. These medications work by affecting the heart's response to certain nerve impulses and by slowing the heart rate, which helps the heart beat more regularly. Betapace is specifically indicated for the treatment of documented ventricular arrhythmias that are considered life-threatening, such as sustained ventricular tachycardia. It helps prevent dangerous electrical signals from causing the lower chambers of the heart to beat out of sync.

Betapace AF is used for a different purpose, specifically to maintain a normal heart rhythm in patients with highly symptomatic atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter who are currently in sinus rhythm. Although both medications contain the same active ingredient, they are not interchangeable due to different labeling and clinical instructions. Because these drugs can cause new or worsened heart rhythm problems, patients usually begin their treatment in a hospital setting where their heart rhythm and kidney function can be monitored continuously for several days to ensure safety.