Digoxin is a drug widely used in the treatment of heart diseases, more often in the form of tablets. He is referred to the pharmacological group of cardiac glycosides - herbal medicines, which have cardiotonic and antiarrhythmic effect.
Chemical composition and therapeutic effect of tablets Digoxin
The active ingredient of the drug Digoxidine is the same substance digoxidine, isolated from the leaves of the plant, digitalis woolly. Other components of the tablet form of the drug are:
- silicon dioxide colloidal;
- gelatin;
- magnesium stearate;
- talc;
- starch from corn;
- lactose monohydrate.
When taken orally, the drug is well absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and detects its effect approximately 2-3 hours after ingestion. The therapeutic effect lasts for at least 6 hours. The remedy is excreted mainly with urine.
Under the influence of the active substance of the drug, the following effects are observed:
- increase in the strength of myocardial muscle contractions (positive inotropic effect);
- an increase in the shock volume of the blood;
- decrease in the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle;
- reduction of the terminal systolic and terminal diastolic volume of the heart;
- decrease in oxygen demand of the myocardium;
- antiarrhythmic action (by reducing the rate of impulses through the atrioventricular node and prolonging the effective period of refractivity);
- vasodilator effect (with congestion on the background of heart failure );
- mild diuretic effect;
- decreased shortness of breath;
- decrease in edema, etc.
Indications for use of the drug Digoxin
The main indications for the use of the medicine Digoxin are such diagnoses:
- chronic heart failure of II, III and IV functional classes (as a component of complex drug therapy);
- tachycardic form of atrial fibrillation;
- paroxysmal atrial fibrillation;
- paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.
Compliance with dosage with the use of tablets Digoxin
As for all drugs belonging to the group of cardiac glycosides, the dosage of Digoxin is chosen carefully by the attending physician, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient's body, the severity and form of pathological processes, and the cardiac electrocardiogram parameters.
For example, one of the regimens of taking the drug in a tablet form involves the appointment of Digoxin in an amount of 0.25 mg 4-5 times on the first day of treatment, and in the following days - 0.25 mg three to once a day. In this case, the reception should be carried out under the supervision of physicians.
After the necessary therapeutic effect (usually after 7 to 10 days), the dosage is reduced, maintenance doses of the drug are prescribed for long-term use. The appointment of intravenous injections, as a rule, is required only in case of severe circulatory failure.
Side Effects of Digoxin:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- stool disorders;
- lack of appetite;
- headache;
- dizziness;
- sleep disorders;
- heart failure;
- increased bleeding;
- itching;
- hives;
- general weakness;
- fatigue, etc.
Contraindications to the use of Digoxin:
- intoxication with cardiac glycosides;
- acute myocardial infarction;
- unstable angina ;
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome;
- atrioventricular block;
- bradycardia with significant clinical manifestations;
- acute rheumatic heart disease;
- mitral stenosis and others.