Digitoxin

Digitoxin Brand Name– Crystodigin

What is Digitoxin

Digitoxin a cardiac glycoside, is used to treat congestive heart failure, to control ventricular rate in the treatment of supraventricular dysrhythmias including atrial fibrillation and flutter, and to treat paroxysmal atrial tachycardia.

Digitoxin differs little in structure or activity from digoxin, although they have distinct pharmacokinetic profiles.

The ancient Egyptians used cardiac glycosides as a poison, and the Romans used them as a cardiovascular tonic. In 1785, Withering published his famous book on foxglove and its uses. (See also: “General Overview of Cardiac Glycosides”).

Today, digitoxin is seldom used due to its significant duration of action relative to digoxin.

The first commercially available digitoxin products approved by the FDA went on the market in 1952.

Indications

  1. atrial fibrillation
  2. atrial flutter
  3. heart failure
  4. paroxysmal atrial tachycardia

For treatment of congestive heart failure and control of ventricular rate in paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and atrial flutter

Side Effects

  1. anorexia
  2. asystole
  3. atrial tachycardia
  4. AV block
  5. diarrhea
  6. dizziness
  7. erythema
  8. fatigue
  9. gynecomastia
  10. headache
  11. hyperkalemia
  12. hypokalemia
  13. maculopapular rash
  14. nausea
  15. paresthesias
  16. photophobia
  17. PR prolongation
  18. premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
  19. pruritus
  20. ST-T wave changes
  21. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
  22. syncope
  23. thrombocytopenia
  24. vomiting

Monitoring Parameters

  • ECG
  • serum calcium
  • serum magnesium
  • serum potassium

Contraindications

  • acute myocardial infarction
  • Adams-Stokes syndrome
  • AV block
  • bradycardia
  • breast-feeding
  • cardiomyopathy
  • carotid sinus hypersensitivity
  • constrictive pericarditis
  • cor pulmonale
  • electrolyte imbalance
  • geriatric
  • hepatic disease
  • hypercalcemia
  • hyperkalemia
  • hyperthyroidism
  • hypocalcemia
  • hypokalemia
  • hypomagnesemia
  • hypothyroidism
  • hypoxemia
  • idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis
  • myxedema
  • pregnancy
  • pulmonary disease
  • renal disease
  • renal failure
  • renal impairment
  • sick sinus syndrome
  • ventricular arrhythmias
  • ventricular fibrillation
  • ventricular tachycardia
  • Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

The use of digitoxin is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to the drug or any of its excipients.

Interactions

  • Acarbose
  • Acetaminophen; Butalbital
  • Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine
  • Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
  • Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors
  • Aluminum Hydroxide
  • Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Carbonate
  • Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide
  • Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide; Simethicone
  • Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Trisilicate
  • Amobarbital
  • Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Lansoprazole
  • Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Omeprazole
  • Amphotericin B
  • Amphotericin B cholesteryl sulfate complex (ABCD)
  • Amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC)
  • Amphotericin B liposomal (LAmB)
  • Apraclonidine
  • Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine
  • Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
  • Atropine; Hyoscyamine; Phenobarbital; Scopolamine
  • Barbiturates
  • Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital
  • Bepridil
  • Brimonidine
  • Brimonidine; Brinzolamide
  • Brimonidine; Timolol
  • Butabarbital
  • Calcium
  • Calcium Acetate
  • Calcium Carbonate
  • Calcium Carbonate; Magnesium Hydroxide
  • Calcium Carbonate; Risedronate
  • Calcium Carbonate; Simethicone
  • Calcium Chloride
  • Calcium Gluconate
  • Calcium; Vitamin D
  • Charcoal
  • Chlorthalidone; Clonidine
  • Chromium
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clonidine
  • Cocaine
  • Cyclosporine
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Dextromethorphan; Quinidine
  • Digoxin Immune Fab
  • Diphenhydramine; Ibuprofen
  • Dofetilide
  • Edetate Calcium Disodium, Calcium EDTA
  • Edetate Disodium, Disodium EDTA
  • Famotidine; Ibuprofen
  • Flecainide
  • Gallium Ga 68 Dotatate
  • Ginger, Zingiber officinale
  • Heparin
  • Hetastarch; Dextrose; Electrolytes
  • Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Spironolactone
  • Hydrocodone; Ibuprofen
  • Ibuprofen
  • Ibuprofen; Oxycodone
  • Ibuprofen; Pseudoephedrine
  • Indapamide
  • Loop diuretics
  • Magnesium Hydroxide
  • Magnesium Salts
  • Mannitol
  • Mephobarbital
  • Methohexital
  • Miglitol
  • Nesiritide, BNP
  • Oxymetazoline
  • Pentobarbital
  • Phenobarbital
  • Polycarbophil
  • Primidone
  • Psyllium
  • Quinidine
  • Quinine
  • Reserpine
  • Rifapentine
  • Secobarbital
  • Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
  • Sotalol
  • Spironolactone
  • Sulfasalazine
  • Sympathomimetics
  • Thiazide diuretics
  • Thiopental
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