Digoxin is also known as lanoxin and belongs to a class of cardiovascular drugs known as cardiac glycosides. According to the National Institutes of Health, digoxin is used to treat mild to moderate heart failure and atrial fibrillation
Heart Failure
Heart failure is a condition where the heart's pumping power becomes weaker than normal. Symptoms of heart failure occur when oxygen rich blood fails to reach the whole body. According to the American Heart Association, digoxin works by increasing the force of the heart's contractions and this relieves symptoms of heart failure.
Atrial Fibrillation
Digoxin also treats an abnormal heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation. The AHA states that atrial fibrillation occurs when electrical signals from the atria cause rapid contractions of the ventricles. Rapid ventricular contractions are inefficient in pumping blood containing oxygen to the whole body and this leads to symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness and chest pain. Digoxin prevents these symptoms by blocking the electrical conduction between the atria and ventricles, thus slowing ventricular contractions.
Contraindications
According to the NIH, patients with ventricular fibrillation, and those who have an allergy to digoxin and other cardiac glycosides should not use digoxin. NIH further states that digoxin should be used carefully in patients with heart conditions such as AV block and sinus node disease
Precautions
NIH states that patients must check the apical pulse before taking digoxin. If the pulse is less than sixty beats per minute, then they should first consult their doctor before taking the medication. Patients should also inform doctors of any other medications they take because many drugs interact with digoxin which could result in digoxin toxicity. Patients should also consume foods high in potassium because low potassium levels cause digoxin toxicity.
Side Effects
According to the NIH, common side effects of digoxin include dizziness, confusion, irregular heartbeat, drowsiness, rash, blurred vision and yellow vision. The NIH says that side effects of digoxin occur less frequently when the drug is administered within the therapeutic range and when less concurrent medications are used.
Digoxin Toxicity
The NIH says that digoxin toxicity usually occurs when high levels of digoxin are administered. Digoxin toxicity also occurs when there are low levels of potassium in the blood. Frequent lab work proves necessary to check for levels of digoxin and electrolytes in the blood. Signs and symptoms of toxicity include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, seeing halos around lights, palpitations and confusion
