A comparison of the cardiovascular effects of (+)-sotalol and (+/-)-sotalol following intravenous administration in normal volunteers

Abstract

In a placebo controlled open study in six healthy male volunteers (+)-sotalol in the dose range 0.125 mg kg-1-2.0 mg kg-1 intravenously, was found to have little or no beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity in comparison to the racemic mixture (+/-)-sotalol. The repolarization effects of (+)- and (+/-)-sotalol on the QTc interval however were comparable over the same dose range. The beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity and repolarization effects of sotalol appear to be unrelated.