According to Drugs.com, digitek (brand name Lanoxin) belongs to a group of medications known as cardiac glycosides. Digitek is derived from the leaves of the plant digitalis lanata. Digitek is available only as a prescription and is prescribed for certain cardiovascular problems.
Heart Failure
Digitek is used to treat mild to moderate heart failure, according to Drugs.com. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the whole body. Digitek increases the force of contraction of heart muscles which enables the ventricles to pump blood to the body more effectively.
Atrial Fibrillation
Digitek is used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation, which is a disorder of the upper heart chambers known as atria. The atria beat rapidly and transmit rapid electrical signals to the ventricles, which respond by contracting rapidly. When the ventricles contract too quickly, an adequate supply of blood fails to fill the ventricles and less blood is pumped to the body. This results in symptoms of heart failure such as difficulties breathing, sudden weigh gain and coughing. Digitek treats heart failure by slowing the rapid transmission of electrical signals from the atria to the ventricles.
Atrial Flutter
Digitek is also used to treat atrial flutter. Atrial flutter is an abnormal heart rhythm similar to atrial fibrillation. The atria are overstimulated and transmit electrical signals to the ventricles, which results in the ventricles contracting rapidly. Rapid ventricular contractions are ineffective in pumping blood to the whole body. Digitek treats atrial flutter by slowing the conduction of electrical impulses between the atria and ventricles.
