Clinical Overview
Digoxin is a purified cardiac glycoside extracted from Digitalis lanata on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. It reversibly inhibits the sarcolemmal Na+/K+-ATPase pump in cardiomyocytes, raising intracellular sodium and driving sodium-calcium exchange (NCX) to increase intracellular calcium, producing positive inotropic action (increased myocardial contractility). It also stimulates central vagal nuclei, slowing AV nodal conduction and ventricular rate. Indicated for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and ventricular rate control in chronic atrial fibrillation.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Verified Clinical References
Usage Guidelines
Take orally once daily at the same time with a glass of water, with or without meals. Maintain consistent daily dosing. Routine therapeutic drug monitoring (target serum trough level: 0.5-0.9 ng/mL in heart failure) is mandatory due to a narrow therapeutic index.
General Administration Advice: Adhere strictly to the prescribed dosage, frequency, and treatment course. For oral medications, swallow with sufficient water. Never stop antibiotics, psychiatric medications, or antihypertensives abruptly without clinical direction.
Possible Side Effects
Common: Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, fatigue. Rare/Severe: Digitalis toxicity: life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular premature beats, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, AV block, junctional escape rhythms), yellow-green halos in vision (xanthopsia), confusion, and delirium.
*Note: Individual physiological responses vary. While many patients experience few or no side effects, notify your treating physician if adverse reactions persist or if hypersensitivity (angioedema, skin rash, dyspnea) occurs.
Precautions & Warnings
Narrow therapeutic index; hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypercalcemia markedly potentiate digoxin toxicity and fatal arrhythmias. Monitor serum potassium and renal function routinely. Contraindicated in ventricular fibrillation, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome with atrial fibrillation.
Schedule H (Prescription Required)
This medication is scheduled under statutory drug regulatory frameworks (CDSCO / Drugs & Cosmetics Rules). Dispensing requires a valid medical prescription from a registered medical practitioner. Self-medication or unsupervised dosage adjustment carries significant clinical risks.
Medical Disclaimer: Statutory Clinical Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational and price-transparency purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, clinical diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Always consult a registered medical practitioner or qualified cardiologist/pharmacist before initiating, altering, or substituting any cardiovascular medication.