What is the main effect of digoxin?
Digoxin is a type of drug called a cardiac glycoside. Their function is to slow your heart rate down and improve the filling of your ventricles (two of the chambers of the heart) with blood. For people with atrial fibrillation, where the heart beats irregularly, a different volume of blood is pumped out each time.
What is digoxin used for and side effects?
Digoxin is also available as an oral solution. Digoxin oral tablet is used to treat atrial fibrillation, mild to moderate heart failure in adults, and heart failure in children….The more common side effects that can occur with digoxin include:
- diarrhea.
- dizziness.
- headache.
Does digoxin lower BP?
Calcium channel blockers and digoxin (Lanoxin) can lower blood pressure and heart rate to dangerous levels when administered together with metoprolol.
What is the most serious side effect of digoxin?
Serious side effects have a fast heart rate (palpitations), shortness of breath, feel dizzy or lightheaded and are sweating.
Is digoxin considered a high risk medication?
Digoxin is a high-alert medication because of its narrow therapeutic range and high drug-to-drug interactions (DDIs). Approximately 50% of digoxin toxicity cases are preventable, which motivated us to improve the treatment outcomes of digoxin.
What foods should be avoided when taking digoxin?
Digoxin : Interaction with Food, Herbs and Alcohol
- Banana: Avoid eating banana when you are on digoxin as it increases the potassium level in the body.
- Fiber Rich Foods: Foods rich in fiber like wheat bran muffins and psyllium interact with digoxin and reduce the absorption of digoxin from the digestive tract.
What is the pulse rate for digoxin?
Place your first two fingers on the inside of your wrist, below the base of the thumb. Press lightly. Count the number of beats for 1 full minute. A normal pulse is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.
What food should be avoided when taking digoxin?
Can you eat bananas when taking digoxin?
People taking digoxin should therefore avoid taking potassium supplements, or eating large quantities of fruit (e.g., bananas), unless directed to do so by their doctor.
What time of day should digoxin be taken?
You can take digoxin with or without food, but it’s best to take it at the same time each day. Most people take it in the morning after breakfast. You’ll usually take it once a day. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.
What heart rate is too low for digoxin?
Check your pulse before you take your digoxin. If your pulse is under 60 beats per minute, wait 5 minutes. Then check your pulse again. If it’s still under 60, call your healthcare provider.
What do I need to know before administering digoxin?
A nurse should assess the apical pulse for a full minute before administering digoxin due to its positive inotropic action (it increases contractility, stroke volume, and, thus, cardiac output), negative chronotropic action (it decreases heart rate), and negative dromotropic action (it decreases electrical conduction …
What do you avoid while taking digoxin?
If you are taking antacids, kaolin-pectin, milk of magnesia, metoclopramide, sulfasalazine, or aminosalicylic acid, take them as far apart from your digoxin dose as possible. Ask your pharmacist if you are not sure when to take any of your medications.
What foods should you avoid while taking digoxin?
What should be checked before giving digoxin?
Check your pulse before you take your digoxin. If your pulse is under 60 beats per minute, wait 5 minutes. Then check your pulse again.