Effect of food, food constituents and fluid volume on the bioavailability of sotalol.

The effect of food, some food constituents, and large volumes of fluid taken with the drug on the relative bioavailability of sotalol has been examined in five healthy volunteers. Each subject received an oral 160 mg dose in six different experimental schedules. Venous blood samples were drawn 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 hrs after the dosing, and sotalol concentrations in serum were determined fluorometrically. The results indicate that large volumes of fluid delay but do not affect the extent of sotalol absorption. Food, especially milk, decreases the bioavailability of the drug and an interaction with calcium seems to be the major reason for the reduced absorption.