Examples
|
| Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin | digoxin | |
Digoxin is used to treat
mitral valve regurgitation when atrial fibrillation is
present or when there are symptoms of heart failure due to left ventricle
dysfunction.
How It Works
For atrial fibrillation, digoxin helps
slow the heart rate by blocking the number of electrical impulses that pass
through the
AV node into the lower heart chambers
(ventricles).
For left ventricle dysfunction, digoxin slows and
strengthens heart contractions, enabling the heart to pump more blood with each
beat. It improves heart muscle function by affecting the natural electrical
impulses that stimulate the heartbeat.
Why It Is Used
Digoxin is used in mitral valve
regurgitation when atrial fibrillation is present or when the left ventricle
does not pump well. Digoxin is a medicine you might take if you have heart
failure.
How Well It Works
Digoxin is effective for those with
mitral valve regurgitation. It can:
- Slow the heart rate.
- Strengthen heart contractions in people who have the symptoms of
heart failure.
Side Effects
High doses of digoxin may cause confusion,
nausea, loss of appetite, and visual disturbances. This condition is called
digoxin toxicity. Slow heart rates (bradycardias) or rapid heart rates
(tachycardias) can occur in people who may be taking too much of the medicine
or in people who are also taking a diuretic that may cause potassium or
magnesium levels to drop.
See Drug Reference for a full list of
side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
- Regular blood tests to monitor digoxin levels may be needed to
prevent poisoning.
- Digoxin does not lower blood pressure as do some other drugs used
to treat atrial fibrillation.
- Digoxin does not prevent recurrences of atrial
fibrillation.
- Digoxin does not control heart rate very well during exercise.
Beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers may work better for this purpose.
- Smaller doses of digoxin must be used in people with kidney
problems.
- Other medicines may affect the level of digoxin in the
blood.
- Some forms of rapid heartbeat, such as found in
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, cannot be treated with
digoxin.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF) 
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Credits
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
| Last Updated | March 27, 2008 |
