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Digoxin Drug Analysis and Guidelines

Digoxin is an inotropic antiarrhythmic cardiac glycoside used to treat heart conditions. It works by inhibiting an enzyme to increase calcium in heart cells, strengthening contractions and slowing heart rates. It can interact with many other drugs affecting its removal from the body. Side effects include arrhythmias, vision changes, nausea, and fatigue. Nurses must monitor patients for signs of toxicity like slowed heart rates and hypokalemia, and check digoxin and potassium levels regularly.

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Ferdinand Sherwin Morata
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260 views2 pages

Digoxin Drug Analysis and Guidelines

Digoxin is an inotropic antiarrhythmic cardiac glycoside used to treat heart conditions. It works by inhibiting an enzyme to increase calcium in heart cells, strengthening contractions and slowing heart rates. It can interact with many other drugs affecting its removal from the body. Side effects include arrhythmias, vision changes, nausea, and fatigue. Nurses must monitor patients for signs of toxicity like slowed heart rates and hypokalemia, and check digoxin and potassium levels regularly.

Uploaded by

Ferdinand Sherwin Morata
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

DRUG ANALYSIS

Name of Drug Digoxin Classification: Inotropic Antiarrhythmic Cardiac glycoside

Generic Name

Dosage Adults: Loading dose: 0.751.25 mg PO or 0.125 0.25 mg IV. Maintenance dose: 0.125 0.25 mg/day PO. Lanoxicaps capsules Loading dose: 0.40.6 mg PO. Maintenance dose, 0.1 0.3 mg/day PO.

Indication Inhibits sodiumpotassiumactivated adenosine triphosphatase, promoting movement of calcium from extracellular to intracellular cytoplasm and strengthening myocardial contraction. Also acts on CNS to enhance vagal tone, slowing conduction through the SA and AV nodes.

Drug Interaction Other medications can affect the removal of digoxin from your body, which may affect how digoxin works. Examples include amiodaro ne, azole antifungals (such asitraconazole, k etoconazole), cycl osporine, lapatini b, macrolide antibiotics (such as clarithromycin, er ythromycin), propafenone, ran olazine, rifampin, St. John's wort, among others.

Adverse Effect CNS: fatigue, generalized muscle weakness, agitation, hallucinations, CV: arrhythmias, heart block. EENT: yellowgreen halos around visual images, blurred vision, light flashes, photophobia, diplopia. GI: anorexia, nausea

Nursing Responsibility Drug-induced arrhythmias may increase the severity of heart failure and hypotension. Before giving loading dose, obtain baseline data (heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, and electrolytes) and ask patient about use of cardiac glycosides within the previous 2 to 3 weeks. Loading dose is usually divided over the first 24 hours with approximately half the loading dose given in the first dose. Before giving drug, take apicalradial pulse for 1 minute. Record and notify prescriber of significant changes (sudden increase or decrease in pulse rate, pulse deficit, irregular beats and, particularly, regularization of a previously irregular rhythm). If these occur, check blood pressure and obtain a 12-lead ECG. Monitor digoxin level. Therapeutic level ranges from 0.8 to 2 ng/ml. Obtain blood for digoxin level at least 6 to 8 hours after last oral dose, preferably just before next scheduled dose. Alert: Excessively slow pulse rate (60 beats/minute or less) may be a sign of digitalis toxicity. Withhold

drug and notify prescriber. Monitor potassium level carefully. Take corrective action before hypokalemia occurs. Hyperkalemia may result from digoxin toxicity. Look alike-sound alike: Don't confuse digoxin with doxepin.

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