Digoxin - instructions for use

Digoxin is a representative of an amazing class of drugs - cardiac glycosides. The peculiarity of the action of this group of drugs is that in a small dose these drugs strengthen the force of contraction of the heart muscle. This is why doctors often prescribe digoxin in heart failure , the instructions for use clearly indicate that the timely administration of the drug reduces the severity of peripheral edema and improves the patient's condition.

Digoxin is a useful, but insidious

Very often, in arrhythmias, tachycardia, and heart failure, the doctor prescribes to patients a digoxin, the use of which is explained by the effect of the drug on the conduction and innervation of the heart - the heart rhythm slows down when using the drug, and, accordingly, the heart rate decreases. In addition, the excitation on the conduction system of the heart from the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system is slowed down, which is why digoxin is also prescribed for triggering neurocirculatory dystonia . Instructions for use in this case indicate that the dose of the drug should be minimal and it is impractical to prescribe the drug for more than 3-4 consecutive days - for patients, it is preferable to prescribe medicinal preparations containing an analog of digoxin with less side effects (lantozide obtained from Lily of the valley).

Before starting the use of the drug, the physician should correctly calculate the recommended dose of saturation and the maintenance dose-if the appointment is incorrect, this cardiac glycoside has the greatest number of side effects and effects. That is why every patient, to whom the doctor prescribes digoxin, the instruction for which should be placed on the bedside table or in a convenient place, must necessarily know the possible signs of an overdose. The earliest of these manifestations may be the appearance of blue staining of familiar home furnishings - this symptom often develops much earlier than nausea, vomiting and slowing of the heart rate.

How to take digoxin

The doctor necessarily explains to the patient that digoxin, the instruction for which has remained unchanged for the past seventy years, remains the most effective preparation of cardiac glycosides intended for oral administration. Receive this tool the patient can only from the tablet preparation produced at the pharmaceutical plant, despite the fact that this glycoside is still obtained from plant material, the use of digitalis preparations in other forms is strictly prohibited. In tablets, the amount of the drug is minimally and strictly verified, while different amounts of active substance can be obtained from different types of digitalis, and an overdose of digoxin causes a cardiac arrest.

That is why digoxin, the indications for use which also remain unchanged for a long time, should be taken by intermittent courses - for 3 days of admission is given 3 days break, but depending on the situation the doctor can advise taking the drug for three days and for four taking a break or changing the scheme , But only under strict and constant control. The drug should be taken in the recommended dose, which depends on the weight of the patient and the state of organs and systems of his body, but to improve the effect of the drug you can dissolve the pill under the tongue - so the drug is digested better.

Digoxin. The instructions for use clearly indicate that this medicine should be prescribed only by the physician, and even despite a noticeable positive effect, especially at the beginning of treatment, self-medication by the drug is deadly - this drug is dispensed from the pharmacy under a special prescription.