Digoxin can be used to treat congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Congestive heart failure is a condition when the heart breaks down and is unable to pump blood throughout the body. Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder of the upper chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow into the heart and are called atria. According to MayoClinic.com, digoxin helps make the heart stronger, improves its efficiency, or helps control the speed and rhythm of an individual's heartbeat. According to MayoClinic.com, digoxin is contraindicated in pregnant women, children and the elderly, in individuals with ventricular fibrillation and certain other heart diseases, and in patients with kidney disease and other medical conditions.
Pregnant Women, Children and the Elderly
According to MayoClinic.com, digoxin should be used with caution in pregnant women. The point is equally stressed by MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health, which says that the medication should be used with care in pregnant women and the consulting physician should be informed if the women is pregnant, is planning a pregnancy, or is breastfeeding. The physician should also be informed if a woman gets pregnant while taking digoxin. MayoClinic.com also says that infants are more likely to be sensitive to the effects of this medication. It also says that since the elderly are more likely to have kidney and heart-related problems, the dose of digoxin should be adjusted accordingly.
Ventricular Fibrillation and Other Heart Diseases
According to MayoClinic.com, digoxin is contraindicated in patients with ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation is a condition in which the heart beats rapidly causing the ventricles to stop pumping blood. This causes the blood pressure to fall and the supply of blood to the other parts of the body gets cut off. MayoClinic.com also says that digoxin should be used with caution in individuals suffering from heart diseases such as amyloid heart disease, AV block, constrictive pericarditis, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, sick sinus syndrome, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Kidney Disease and Other Medical Conditions
According to MayoClinic.com, digoxin should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases. Since renal impairment leads to slower removal of the excess medication from the body, the effects of the drug may be more than required. MayoClinic.com also says that digoxin should be used with caution in patients with diseases related to the blood vessels or the thyroid glands. The drug could also worsen conditions such as the presence of high amounts of calcium or oxygen and low amounts of potassium or magnesium in blood.
