Heart Disease and Treatment With Digoxin
If you have heart disease, Digoxin is a medication that helps an injured or weakened heart work more efficiently to send blood through the body. It strengthens the force of the heart muscle's contractions, slows the heart rate, and improves blood circulation.
Two common brands of digoxin are Lanoxin and Lanoxicaps. A variety called digitoxin is sold under the brand name Crystodigin.
Heart Disease Medicine: How Can It Help You?
If you've been diagnosed with heart disease, you and your doctor have probably discussed heart disease medicines you need to maintain your heart health. Your doctor has hundreds of different heart disease medicines to choose from. These medicines work in a variety of ways to help your heart work better. What are the different types of heart disease medicines? How do they help? Here is a list of the types of heart disease medicines: Anticoagulants Antiplatelet agents Angiotensin-converting...
Read the Heart Disease Medicine: How Can It Help You? article > >
Why Do I Need to Take Digoxin?
Digoxin is prescribed to treat:
How Should I Take Digoxin?
Digoxin is usually taken once a day, especially in the elderly and those with kidney dysfunction. Try to take this medication at the same time every day. Follow the label directions on how often to take it. The time allowed between doses and how long you need to take it will depend on your condition. You may have to take this medication for many years, possibly for the rest of your life.
While taking this medication, your doctor may tell you to take and record your pulse daily. He or she will tell you how rapid your pulse should be. If your pulse is slower than recommended, contact your doctor about taking digoxin that day.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory so your response to the drug can be monitored.
Digoxin may cause drowsiness. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
What Are the Side Effects of Digoxin?
If you have any of the following side effects from digoxin, contact your doctor right away:
- Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.
- Changes in vision, such as flashes or flickering of light, sensitivity to light, seeing things larger or smaller than they are, blurring, color changes (especially a yellow or green tint to your vision), and seeing halos or borders on objects.
- Drowsiness, headache, confusion, depression, fatigue, and muscle weakness
- Irregular heartbeat or slow heart rate.
These side effects could mean that your dose needs to be changed. Once you and your doctor have determined the correct dose, you usually will not experience side effects if you take digoxin exactly as prescribed.
WebMD Medical Reference
Today in Heart Disease
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
©2005-2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.