Final answer:
Sotalol is a non-selective beta-blocker used to treat arrhythmias such as Torsades de Pointes by blocking potassium channels. Other potassium channel blockers like amiodarone and procainamide work similarly, affecting the plateau phase of the cardiac action potential and prolonging repolarization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the drug sotalol, which is indeed related to its effects on the heart. Sotalol is a medication used to treat certain types of heart rhythm disorders, and it is not a selective beta-1 antagonist; rather, it is a non-selective beta-blocker that can block both beta-1 and beta-2 receptors. Sotalol has the ability to block potassium (K+) channels, which is crucial in its role in treating arrhythmias, especially Torsades de Pointes, a specific type of tachycardia.
Potassium channel blockers, such as amiodarone and procainamide, which are also used to treat cardiac dysrhythmias, affect the action potential of the heart by impeding the movement of K+ through voltage-gated K+ channels. This action prolongs the plateau phase of the action potential, which is vital to the refractory period of the cardiac cycle. Thus, these medications prolong cardiac repolarization and can be effective in treating arrhythmias by effectively slowing the rate at which the heart beats.