Digoxin

Description

Digoxin is used to treat heart failure and irregular heartbeats. It should be started at lower doses and increased gradually. Close monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate is necessary. Check the electrolytes level before initiating the treatment.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Digoxin

  • Dizziness
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Stomach pain
  • Vomiting
  • Anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Rash
  • Diarrhea
  • Blurred vision
  • Loss of appetite

Uses of Digoxin

What is it prescribed for?

  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • Atrial Fibrillation
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The effect of this medicine can be observed in 0.5 to 2 hours for an oral tablet and 5 to 30 minutes for an intravenous dose.
  • Duration of effect
    The effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 3 to 4 days
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit forming tendencies were reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is recommended in pregnant women only if necessary. The benefits and risks should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    A small amount of this medicine is known to excreted in breastmilk. It is recommended only if necessary. The benefits and risks should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.

Allergy

Not recommended in patients with known allergy to Digoxin.

Ventricular fibrillation

Not recommended in patients with Ventricular fibrillation.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is recommended in pregnant women only if necessary. The benefits and risks should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.

Breast-feeding

A small amount of this medicine is known to excreted in breastmilk. It is recommended only if necessary. The benefits and risks should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings

Arrhythmias

There is an increase in the risk of arrhythmia in Digoxin toxicity patient. This medicine should be used with caution. Close monitoring of blood levels is necessary.

Sinus Bradycardia and Sino-atrial Block

This medicine may lower the blood pressure and may cause heart block. It is used with caution in patients with heart disease.

Digoxin Toxicity

This medicine has an increase in the risk of toxicity due to its narrow therapeutic index. Close monitoring of blood levels is necessary. Any symptoms of anorexia, nausea, vomiting, visual changes and cardiac arrhythmias should be informed to the doctor.

Acute Myocardial Infarction

This medicine will increase the oxygen demand in myocardial infarction patients. Therefore, it is not recommended in acute myocardial infarction patients.

Hypocalcemia

Low calcium level in blood will decrease the effect of Digoxin. Correct the calcium levels before initiating the treatment.

Hypokalaemia

Low potassium level in blood will increase the concentration of Digoxin. Correct the potassium levels before initiating the treatment. Any symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting should be reported to the doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of Digoxin, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Clarithromycin

Pantoprazole

Atorvastatin

Calcium gluconate

Disease interactions

Bradyarrhythmia/Av Block

This medicine is not recommended in patients with bradyarrhythmia/AV block. Inform the doctor if you are having any heart disease. An alternate medicine should be considered based on the clinical condition.

Hypokalemia/Hypomagnesemia

There is an increase in the risk of digoxin toxicity in patients with low potassium and magnesium levels. The baseline of electrolytes should be obtained before initiating the treatment. Close monitoring is necessary.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Digoxin as advised by your doctor. Do not take in larger amounts than advised. It is advised to take this medicine at the same time every day. Monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure is necessary. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects. Do not stop taking the medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
It works by controlling the heart rate by acting on ion channels.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Group V antiarrhythmics

Schedule

Schedule H

[Internet]. 2017 [cited 3 May 2017]. Available from:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/23943

Digoxin Oral: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 3 May 2017]. Available from:

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682301.html

DailyMed - Digoxin injection [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 3 May 2017]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3933b07f-5857-4a80-b502-e3214bdf9330

Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 3 May 2017]. Available from:

https://www.tga.gov.au/prescribing-medicines-pregnancy-database#searchname

[Internet]. Toxnet.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 3 May 2017]. Available from:

https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/f?./temp/~QKbt67:1

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Information on this page was last updated on 16 Nov 2017

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.