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- $Unique_ID{BRK03130}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{digoxin}
- $Subject{Lanoxicaps Burroughs Wellcome Lanoxin Cardiac glycoside digoxin heart
- arrhythmias congestive failure muscle heartbeat rhythm contraction}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{
- Lanoxin 0.125 mg*0313001.scf
- Lanoxin 0.25 mg*0313002.scf}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- digoxin
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- digoxin (various manufacturers)
- Lanoxicaps (Burroughs Wellcome)
- Lanoxin (Burroughs Wellcome)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Cardiac glycoside
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- digoxin
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Tablets (0.125 mg, 0.25 mg, and 0.5 mg)
- Capsules (0.05 mg, 0.1 mg, and 0.2 mg)
- Pediatric elixir (0.05 mg per ml, with 10% alcohol)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Digoxin tablets, capsules, and pediatric elixir should be stored at room
- temperature in tightly closed, light-resistant containers. This medication
- should never be frozen.
-
- USES
-
- Digoxin is used to treat heart arrhythmias and congestive heart failure.
- It works directly on the muscle of the heart to strengthen the heartbeat and
- improve heart rhythm and contraction.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- To avoid stomach irritation, take digoxin with water or with food. Try
- to take it at the same time every day.
- Measure the dose of the pediatric elixir carefully with the dropper
- provided. An ordinary kitchen teaspoon is not accurate enough.
- Antacids decrease the absorption of digoxin from the gastrointestinal
- tract. Therefore, if you are taking both digoxin and an antacid, the dose of
- digoxin should be taken one hour before or two hours after a dose of antacids.
- Try not to miss any doses of this medication. If you do miss a dose,
- take the missed dose as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for the
- next dose. In that case, do not take the missed dose at all; just return to
- your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the next dose. If you miss more
- than two doses of digoxin, contact your doctor.
- Digoxin does not cure congestive heart failure, but it will help to
- control the condition as long as you continue to take the medication.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Apathy, diarrhea, drowsiness, headache, muscle weakness, or tiredness.
- These side effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- disorientation, enlarged and painful breasts (in both sexes), hallucinations,
- loss of appetite, mental depression, nausea, palpitations, severe abdominal
- pain, slowed heart rate, visual disturbances (such as blurred or yellow
- vision), or vomiting.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- Digoxin interacts with several other types of medications (interactions
- may vary depending upon the dosage form of digoxin being used):
- 1. Penicillamine, antiseizure medications, rifampin, amino-glutethimide,
- and levodopa can decrease the blood levels and, therefore, the effectiveness
- of digoxin.
- 2. Erythromycin, amiodarone, captopril, benzodiazepine tranquilizers,
- flecainide, tetracycline, hydroxychloroquine, ibuprofen, indomethacin,
- verapamil, nifedipine, diltiazem, quinidine, quinine, and spironolactone can
- increase the blood levels of digoxin, which can lead to an increase in side
- effects.
- 3. Thyroid hormone, propylthiouracil, and methimazole can change the
- dosage requirements of digoxin.
- 4. Antacids, kaolin-pectin, sulfasalazine, aminosalicylic acid,
- metoclopramide, antineoplastic agents (anticancer drugs), neomycin,
- colestipol, and cholestyramine can decrease the absorption of digoxin from the
- gastrointestinal tract, decreasing its effectiveness.
- 5. Calcium, tolbutamide, and reserpine can increase the side effects of
- digoxin.
- 6. Diuretics (water pills) and adrenocorticosteroids (cortisone-like
- medications) can cause hypokalemia (low potassium blood levels).
- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
- taking.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to digoxin, digitoxin, or any other digitalis
- glycoside.
- * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had kidney
- disease, lung disease, thyroid disease, hypokalemia (low blood levels of
- potassium), or hypercalcemia (high blood levels of calcium).
- * The pharmacologic activity of the different brands of this drug varies
- widely--the tablets dissolve in the stomach and bowel at different rates and
- to varying degrees. Because of this variability, it is important not to
- change brands of the drug without consulting your doctor.
- * Meals high in bran fiber may reduce the absorption of digoxin from the
- gastrointestinal tract. Avoid these types of meals when taking your dose of
- medication.
- * Your doctor may want you to take your pulse daily while you are using
- digoxin. Contact your doctor if your pulse becomes slower than what your
- doctor tells you is normal, or if it drops below 50 beats per minute.
- * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be sure
- to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
- * Before taking any over-the-counter (nonprescription) asthma, allergy,
- cough, cold, sinus, or diet product, be sure to check with your doctor or
- pharmacist. Some of these drugs can increase the side effects of digoxin.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Although this drug
- appears to be safe during pregnancy, extensive studies in humans have not been
- conducted. In addition, the dosage of digoxin required to control your
- symptoms may change during pregnancy. Also, tell your doctor if you are
- breast-feeding an infant. Small amounts of digoxin pass into breast milk.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-