Digoxin

Digoxin is come under cardiac glycoside category. It is similar to digitoxin, a natural cardiac glycoside extracted from Digitalis plant. Digoxin is used in the treatment of heart failure and supraventricular arrhythmias. Digoxin is one of the medicine that is come under WHO’s list of essential medicines. Digoxin is mainly given orally but in some urgent cases but can be given by IV injection.

Mode of Action:

It has direct effects on myocardial contractility and electrophysiological conduction properties i.e. 1) Negative chronotropic effect (Reduces heart rates & A.V. conduction). 2) Positive inotropic effect i.e. there is dose dependent increase in force of contraction of myocardium.

Digoxin works by inhibiting Na+/K+ ATPase, mainly in the myocardium. This inhibition increases intracellular sodium level, resulting in a reversal action of the sodium-calcium exchanger. This reversal causes increase in the intracellular calcium concentration that is available to the contractile protein; result in the increase in the force of myocardial contraction.

A mild diuretic effect with Digoxin is seen due to its affect on kidney by increased renal blood flow and increased filtration rate.

Indication:

Congestive Heart failures, Cardiac tachy arrhythmias, Supraventicular arrhythmias (Oral), emergency heart failure (Intravenous)

Side Effects:

Anorexia, Nausea, Vomiting, Abdominal pain, Fatigue, Headache, Mental confusion, Restlessness etc

Dosage Form:

• Digoxin 0.25 mg tablets
• Digoxin 50mcg/ml oral liquids
• Digoxin 0.5mg/2ml injections

Combinations of Digoxin:

• Digoxin 0.05mg + Ethanol95% 0.053ml per ml oral liquid

Brand Names (Company Name)

Celoxin (Celon)

Digitran (Macleods)

Digosyp (Cadila)