Digoxin Oral

Uses Digoxin is used to treat heart failure, usually along with other medications. It is also used to treat a certain type of irregular heartbeat (chronic atrial fibrillation). Treating heart failure may help maintain your ability to walk and exercise, improve your heart function, and decrease the chance that you will need hospitalization. Treating an irregular heartbeat helps the heart pump blood properly. Digoxin belongs to a class of medications called cardiac glycosides. It works by affecting certain minerals (sodium and potassium) inside the cells of the heart. This reduces strain on the heart and helps it beat more strongly. Digoxin also helps control the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat.

How to use Digoxin Oral Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor. Certain foods and medications decrease the absorption of digoxin. Therefore, take digoxin at least 2 hours before or after eating food products high in fiber (such as bran). If you are taking cholestyramine, colestipol, or psyllium, wait at least 2 hours after your digoxin dose before taking any of these products. If you are taking antacids, kaolin-pectin, milk of magnesia, metoclopramide, sulfasalazine, or aminosalicylic acid, take as far apart as possible from your digoxin dose. Dosage is based on your medical condition, age, body weight, and response to therapy. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time each day. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped. Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Before taking digoxin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other forms of digitalis (e.g., digitoxin); or if you have any other allergies.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney problems, liver disease, lung disease, untreated mineral imbalance (high or low calcium, low potassium or magnesium), underactive or overactive thyroid, certain types of heart disease (e.g., severe heart failure, abnormal heart rhythm), rheumatic fever.
Difficult breathing, trouble walking and swelling in your lower legs and ankles may be signs that your medications need adjustment.
If normal activity causes shortness of breath, or if you awaken frequently during the night due to shortness of breath, tell your doctor immediately.
Do not change any of your medications without consulting your doctor.
This drug works best when blood potassium and magnesium levels are kept in a normal range. Certain drugs such as diuretics ("water pills") may lower the amount of these minerals in your body. Ask your doctor about adding potassium and/or magnesium to your diet. Your doctor may prescribe a potassium and/or magnesium supplement.
Before having surgery or certain procedures on your heart (e.g., electrical cardioversion), tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication.
Caution is advised when using this drug in infants and children because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially the effects on heart rhythm.
This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
Digoxin passes into breast milk. While there have been no reports of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Overdose If overdose is suspected, stop taking this medication and contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, muscle weakness, fainting, severe abdominal pain, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat. In infants and children, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, especially a very slow heartbeat, may be an early sign of overdose.

NOTES: Do not share this medication with others. There are different brands and forms of this medication available. Not all are identical in their effects. Do not change brands or forms without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., kidney function tests, blood mineral levels, digoxin levels, electrocardiograms) should be performed from time to time to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Keep all regular medical and laboratory appointments. Learn how to check your pulse, and share the results with your doctor. Consult your doctor for more details.

MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember if you remember within 12 hours. If you remember after 12 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up. If you miss more than two doses in a row, call your doctor to get a new dosing schedule.

STORAGE: Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854- 1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Nausea, vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, and diarrhea may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: confusion, dizziness, weakness, mental/mood changes (e.g., anxiety, depression, hallucinations), fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, vision changes (blurred vision or yellow/green halos around objects), enlarged/tender breasts.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

See also the How to Use section. Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: water pills(diuretics such as furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, amiloride), corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), laxatives (e.g., milk of magnesia), sodium polystyrene sulfonate, drugs for irregular heartbeat (antiarrhythmics such as amiodarone, flecainide, propafenone), calcium injection/supplements, calcium channel blockers (e.g., diltiazem, verapamil), beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol, propranolol), adrenaline-type drugs (sympathomimetics such as pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine), certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, indomethacin), HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, saquinavir), macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin), tetracycline antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline, tetracycline), aminoglycoside antibiotics (e.g., tobramycin, gentamicin), rifamycins (e.g., rifampin, rifabutin), propantheline, diphenoxylate, antacids, sucralfate, sulfasalazine, metoclopramide, cholestyramine, colestipol, psyllium, certain immunosuppressants (e.g., cyclosporine and tacrolimus), certain drugs for cancer (e.g., cyclophosphamide, methotrexate), thyroid medications (e.g., levothyroxine, methimazole), alprazolam, amphotericin B, acarbose, hydroxychloroquine, itraconazole, penicillamine, propantheline, phenytoin, quinine, certain herbal products (e.g., ginseng, St. Johns wort).
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.