Sotalol kinetics in renal insufficiency.

Kinetics of sotalol, a beta adrenoceptor blocker, was studied in 20 patients with varying renal function. In subjects with creatinine clearance (Clcr) ≥ 39 ml/min/m2, sotalol plasma clearance (x ± SD) was 71 ± 31 ml/min/m2, elimination half-life (t½) was 8.1 ± 3.4 hr, and renal clearance was 46 ± 26 ml/min/m2. In patients with moderate renal impairment (Clcr = 8 to 38 ml/min/m2) elimination t½ rose to 24.2 ± 7.5 hr, and plasma clearance fell to 24 ± 7 ml/min/m2. In patients receiving dialysis, elimination t½ rose to 33.9 ± 27.1 hr. Elimination t½ during hemodialysis was 5.8 ±2.1 hr and was associated with a 56.7 ± 21% reduction in plasma levels. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1981) 29, 457–463; doi:10.1038/clpt.1981.63