DIGOXIN oral

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    Last updated: February 2024

     

    Prescription under medical supervision

     

     
    Due to narrow margin between therapeutic and toxic dose, patients should be kept under close surveillance.

     

    Therapeutic action

    • Cardiotonic

    Indications

    • Supraventricular arrhythmias (fibrillation, flutter, paroxysmal tachycardia)
    • Heart failure

    Forms and strengths

    • 250 micrograms (0.25 mg) tablet

    Dosage

    • Adult: 125 to 250 micrograms (0.125 to 0.25 mg) once daily
    • Reduce the dose by half in older patients and in patients with renal impairment.

    Duration

    • According to clinical response

    Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

    • Do not administer to patients with bradycardia, ill defined arrhythmia, coronary artery disease.
    • It is essential to monitor heart rate in the initial stage of treatment.
    • May cause in the event of overdose: gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea), blurred vision, headache, confusion, conduction and rhythm disorders. If so, reduce dose or stop treatment.
    • Do not combine with calcium, particularly by IV route (serious arrhythmias).
    • Monitor combination with:
      • amiodarone, macrolides, itraconazole, quinine, chloroquine (increased digoxin concentration);
      • potassium-depleting drugs: diuretics, corticosteroids, amphotericin B (increased risk of digoxin toxicity).
    • Monitor if possible serum potassium level in patients taking potassium-depleting drugs and serum creatinine level in patients with renal impairment.
    • Do not administer simultaneously with antacids such as aluminium hydroxide, etc., administer 2 hours apart.
    • Pregnancy: no contra-indication
    • Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

    Storage

     
    –  Below 25 °C