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
- atrial fibrillation
- atrial flutter
- heart failure
- 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
- anorexia
- asystole
- atrial tachycardia
- AV block
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- erythema
- fatigue
- gynecomastia
- headache
- hyperkalemia
- hypokalemia
- maculopapular rash
- nausea
- paresthesias
- photophobia
- PR prolongation
- premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
- pruritus
- ST-T wave changes
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- syncope
- thrombocytopenia
- 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