Drug interactions
Ketamine + Sotalol
Severity: Moderate
Ketamine and Sotalol: moderate 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
Ketamine usually raises blood pressure and heart rate through sympathetic stimulation, but in catecholamine-depleted or beta-blocked patients it can act as a direct myocardial depressant. With sotalol this may cause hypotension or reduced cardiac output.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ketamine and Sotalol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Ketamine belongs to Central Nervous System; Sotalol belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Beta-blockade limits the compensatory sympathetic response, unmasking ketamine's direct negative inotropic effect.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and ECG during induction and titrate ketamine cautiously. Have fluids and vasopressors ready.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Ketamine 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 14 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
Other interactions of Ketamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ketamine with Sotalol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ketamine and Sotalol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Ketamine usually raises blood pressure and heart rate through sympathetic stimulation, but in catecholamine-depleted or beta-blocked patients it can act as a direct myocardial depressant. With sotalol this may cause hypotension or reduced cardiac output.
How serious is the interaction between Ketamine and Sotalol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and ECG during induction and titrate ketamine cautiously. Have fluids and vasopressors ready.
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.
