DIGOXIN belongs to a group of medicines called cardiac glycosides used to treat irregular heartbeats and manage the symptoms of heart failure. Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood as effectively as it should. Irregular heartbeat is a condition in which your heart beats irregularly, too fast or too slow.
DIGOXIN contains digoxin, i.e. cardiac glycosides that help to increase the output force of the heart and reduces the rate of heart contractions. DIGOXIN works on the heart muscle directly and increases the force with which heart muscle contracts with each heartbeat. Thereby, it makes heart efficient in pumping blood around the body and slows down the rate at which heartbeats.
Take DIGOXIN as prescribed. Your doctor will recommend you how often you take DIGOXIN based on your medical condition. Some people may experience common side effects like diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, abnormal heartbeat or skin rash. Most of these side effects of DIGOXIN do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, please consult your doctor.
If you are known to be allergic to DIGOXIN or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Pregnant or breastfeeding women are advised to consult a doctor before taking the tablet. Regular blood tests are recommended by your doctor while taking DIGOXIN to monitor the amount of DIGOXIN in the bloodstream as its toxicity can lead to several forms of heart rhythm disturbances, vomiting, nausea and visual disturbances. If you have beriberi disease caused due to vitamin B1 deficiency, malabsorption syndrome (unable to absorb minerals from food) or any lung or kidney disease, please inform your doctor before taking DIGOXIN so that the dose may be adjusted or an alternate medicine may be prescribed accordingly. DIGOXIN has a very narrow therapeutic index. It means small differences in dose of drugs in the body may lead to life-threatening conditions or serious side effects. This makes its use limited and requires close monitoring by doctors like regular electrocardiogram (ECG). So, try not to self-medicate and suggest DIGOXIN to others.
Irregular heartbeats, Prevention of heart failure
DIGOXIN is a cardiac glycoside that is used to treat heart failure and irregular heartbeats. DIGOXIN increases the force with which heart muscle contracts with each heartbeat and makes heart efficient in pumping blood around the body. Thus, slows down the rate at which heartbeats and makes heart rate normal. DIGOXIN improves heart failure symptoms such as exercise capacity and reduces the number of hospitalizations.
If you are known to be allergic to DIGOXIN or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Pregnant or breastfeeding women are advised to consult a doctor before taking the tablet. Avoid intake of alcohol with DIGOXIN as it may increase the risk of drowsiness. DIGOXIN may cause vision problems in some people. Make sure you are not affected before driving. Regular blood tests are recommended by your doctor while taking DIGOXIN to monitor the amount of digoxin in blood as digoxin toxicity can lead to several forms of heart rhythm disturbances, vomiting, nausea and visual disturbances. If you have beriberi disease caused by vitamin B1 deficiency, malabsorption syndrome (unable to absorb minerals from food), thyroid, or any lung or kidney disease, please inform your doctor before taking DIGOXIN so that the dose may be adjusted or an alternate medicine may be prescribed accordingly. DIGOXIN has a narrow therapeutic index which makes its use limited and requires close monitoring as small change in dose or blood concentration may lead to severe adverse effects, and overdose may lead to life-threatening reactions.
Drug-Drug Interaction: DIGOXIN may have interaction with medicines used to treat irregular heartbeat (adenosine, amiodarone, dolasetron, quinidine), cardiac stimulants (arbutamine), HIV/AIDS drugs (atazanavir, saquinavir), anticancer drugs (ceritinib, lapatinib), antibiotics (clarithromycin), immunosuppressants (fingolimod), antidepressants (flibanserin), antifungal drugs (itraconazole) and calcium supplements (calcium chloride, calcium gluceptate, calcium gluconate).
Drug- Food Interaction: DIGOXIN may interact with alcohol. Therefore, avoid alcohol intake while taking DIGOXIN.
Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have beriberi disease caused by vitamin B1 deficiency, malabsorption syndrome (unable to absorb minerals from food), thyroid, or any lung or kidney disease, please inform your doctor before taking DIGOXIN.
You are recommended to avoid consumption of alcohol with DIGOXIN as it may increase drowsiness and reduce the amount of DIGOXIN in blood leading to abnormal heart function.
Tablet: It is a Category C pregnancy drug and is to be given to pregnant women only if it is clearly needed and prescribed by a doctor.
Tablet: It is safe for breastfeeding mothers if prescribed by a doctor.
DIGOXIN may cause dizziness, yellow or blurred vision in some people. So, make sure you are not affected before driving or operating machinery.
If you have any concerns regarding the use of DIGOXIN in patients with Liver problems, please consult a doctor.
Take DIGOXIN with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Paediatric solution is to be used in children in doses as prescribed by a child specialist.
Heart failure: It is a chronic condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood as effectively as it should. Heart failure may occur due to certain conditions like high blood pressure, swelling or damage of heart muscle, faulty heart valves or narrow arteries in the heart. Symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, tiredness, fast heartbeat and swollen legs.
Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) is a condition in which your heart beats irregularly, too fast or too slow. Symptoms of irregular heartbeat include chest pain, shortness of breath, fast or slow heartbeat. 60 to 100 beats per minute is generally considered as normal heart rate.