Cardiovascular and respiratory effects of the beta-adrenoceptive antagonist sotalol: studies in health, angina pectoris and obstructive lung disease.

The cardiovascular and respiratory actions of the adrenergic beta adrenoceptive drug sotalol have been studied in an open, short term trial. Fifteen patients with angina performed standardized orthostatic and exercise tests before and after injection of 20 mg sotalol intravenously. Although there was a significant reduction of heart rate and blood pressure at the time of appearance of angina pectoris and ST-segment depression, there was only a slight and statistically insignificant increase in work before the appearance of angina pectoris, and ischaemic changes in the ECG disappeared more rapidly after work. In a different group of patients suffering from obstructive lung disease, sotalol 10 mg intravenously produced a significant increase in airway resistance. It has no such effect on normal subjects.