Digitalis

Description:
Digoxin, or digitalis, is one of the most common medicines used to treat symptoms of heart failure. It can also be used to treat atrial fibrillation and some types of congenital heart disease. Digoxin can improve your heart’s pumping ability and help it maintain a normal rhythm.

Digoxin may take several weeks or months to start working. It is important to continue taking it as instructed, even if symptoms do not appear to be lessening. Stopping the medication abruptly can cause symptoms to get worse. Digoxin is generally taken once a day, at the same time every day, and on an empty stomach. If your doctor has given you different instructions, however, it is important to follow them exactly.

Your doctor will monitor the success of the medication through tests like electrocardiograms, which measure heart function, and blood tests that measure the amount of digoxin in the blood. The dosage may need to be adjusted.

Many over-the-counter and prescription drugs can decrease the effectiveness of digoxin. Ask your doctor if your brand of these medications will interact with digoxin negatively:

• Liquid antacids
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs (like cholestyramine and colestipol)
• Antidiarrheal medicines
• Bulk laxatives (such as psyllium, Metamucil or Citrucel)
• Asthma medications
• Cold, cough or sinus remedies
• Diet medications