Digoxin

What it is used for

Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside indicated for: Treatment of mild to moderate heart failure in adults. Increasing myocardial contractility in pediatric patients with heart failure. Control of resting ventricular rate in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation in adults. Heart Failure in Adults Digoxin is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate heart failure in adults.

Digoxin increases left ventricular ejection fraction and improves heart failure symptoms as evidenced by improved exercise capacity and decreased heart failure-related hospitalizations and emergency care, while having no effect on mortality. Where possible, digoxin should be used in combination with a diuretic and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.

Heart Failure in Pediatric Patients Digoxin increases myocardial contractility in pediatric patients with heart failure. Atrial Fibrillation in Adults Digoxin is indicated for the control of ventricular response rate in adult patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.

Side effects, and when to stop

The following adverse reactions are included in more detail in the Warnings and Precautions section of the label:

• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Digoxin Toxicity

Who should not take it

LANOXIN is contraindicated in patients with:

• Ventricular fibrillation
• Known hypersensitivity to digoxin (reactions seen include unexplained rash, swelling of the mouth, lips or throat or a difficulty in breathing). A hypersensitivity reaction to other digitalis preparations usually constitutes a contraindication to digoxin.

Other medicines and interactions

Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic index, increased monitoring of serum digoxin concentrations and for potential signs and symptoms of clinical toxicity is necessary when initiating, adjusting, or discontinuing drugs that may interact with digoxin. Prescribers should consult the prescribing information of any drug which is co-prescribed with digoxin for potential drug interaction information.