Drug interactions
Butalbital + Sotalol
Severity: Minor
Butalbital and Sotalol: minor interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Butalbital, a barbiturate, may induce hepatic enzymes and lower exposure to some beta-blockers. Sotalol is eliminated almost entirely unchanged by the kidneys, so any loss of effect is expected to be small.
What this interaction means in plain words
Butalbital and Sotalol have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised.
Why it happens
Barbiturate enzyme induction could increase metabolism of hepatically cleared beta-blockers, but sotalol is renally excreted so the effect is likely negligible.
What to do
No dose change is usually needed; monitor heart rate and blood pressure or arrhythmia control if butalbital is used regularly.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there anything I should notice while taking both?
- Do I need to tell my doctor at the next visit?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Butalbital and Sotalol, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Sotalol
- Arsenic trioxide + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Artemether / lumefantrine + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Disopyramide + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Droperidol + Sotalol Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Butalbital with Sotalol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Butalbital and Sotalol have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised. Butalbital, a barbiturate, may induce hepatic enzymes and lower exposure to some beta-blockers. Sotalol is eliminated almost entirely unchanged by the kidneys, so any loss of effect is expected to be small.
How serious is the interaction between Butalbital and Sotalol?
MediHelp rates it minor, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: No dose change is usually needed; monitor heart rate and blood pressure or arrhythmia control if butalbital is used regularly.
What other medicines interact with Sotalol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Sotalol with, for example, Arsenic trioxide, Artemether / lumefantrine, Disopyramide. The full list is on the Sotalol page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
