Heralded as the oldest known cardiovascular drug, digoxin remains widely used today in the face of increasing rates in heart failure and atrial fibrillation despite the emergence of newer medications
2006;2:HS-28-HS-36
8 Inhibition of this pump causes the hyperkalaemia commonly seen in toxicity
It has a very narrow therapeutic window of the medication
Supportive measures and management of specific signs of toxicity are also covered
Digoxin may be used in patients with heart failure, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and in selected cases of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Digoxin toxicity—confusion, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, change in vision The consensus expert opinion was that for patients with digoxin toxicity in cardiac arrest (loss of cardiac output due to asystole, pulseless electrical activity or tachyarrhythmias), five vials of digoxin immune Fab (40 milligrams per vial) are administered immediately
(4) Circulating neurohormones: Therapeutic doses of digoxin decrease the serum norepinephrine concentrations and plasma renin activity
In severe toxicity cases, administration of digoxin immune fab may be helpful to rapidly reduce serum digoxin levels
These include: the xenobiotics ouabain and lanatoside C Overdose or accumulation of digoxin causes digoxin toxicity
Hypokalemia greatly increase risk of digoxin toxicity Hypercalcemia Digoxin is used to treat congestive heart failure and to slow the heart rate in patients with atrial fibrillation
Place the patient on a cardiac monitor and address any contributing factors such as The patient will be given digoxin immune fab