Digoxin for atrial fibrillation
Examples
| digoxin |
Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin |
Digoxin is used to control heart rate. It is also used to
increase the strength of ventricular contractions in people with left-sided
heart failure.
How It Works
Digoxin helps slow the heart rate by
blocking the number of electrical impulses that pass through the
AV node into the lower heart chambers
(ventricles).
Digoxin can also strengthen ventricular contractions
so that the heart is able to pump more blood with each beat.
Why It Is Used
Digoxin slows heart rate and
strengthens heart contractions in people who have
atrial fibrillation. Digoxin can also be used to treat
heart failure and therefore is useful in treating people with both atrial
fibrillation and heart failure.
How Well It Works
Digoxin may be used along with
other medications to treat atrial fibrillation. Digoxin alone may not
adequately control heart rate in people with active lifestyles.
Digoxin may improve symptoms of atrial fibrillation by:
- Slowing the heart
rate.
- Strengthening heart contractions in people who have heart
failure.
Side Effects
High doses may cause digoxin poisoning.
Symptoms of digoxin poisoning include:
- Confusion.
- Nausea.
- Loss
of appetite.
- Visual disturbances.
- Cardiac
arrhythmias.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug
Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Regular blood tests may be needed
to monitor digoxin levels to prevent poisoning. Other medications may affect
the level of digoxin in the blood.
Digoxin does not:
- Lower blood pressure like some other drugs used
for atrial fibrillation do.
- Prevent recurrences of atrial
fibrillation.
- Control heart rate very well during exercise.
Beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers are better for controlling heart rate
during exercise.
Smaller doses of digoxin must be used in older people or
people with kidney problems.
People who have
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome with atrial
fibrillation cannot be treated with digoxin.
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Last Updated:
December 18, 2008
