Digoxin (INN), also known as digitalis, is a purified cardiac glycoside extracted from the foxglove plant, Digitalis lanata. Its corresponding aglycone is digoxigenin, and its acetyl derivative is acetyldigoxin. Digoxin is widely used in the treatment of various heart conditions, namely atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and sometimes heart failure that cannot be controlled by other medication.
The main pharmacological effects of digoxin are on the heart. Extracardiac effects are responsible for many of the adverse effects
Its main cardiac effects of digoxin are
- A decrease of conduction of electrical impulses through the AV node, making it a commonly used antiarrhythmic agent in controlling the heart rate during atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
- An increase of force of contraction via inhibition of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump
Adverse Effects of Digoxin
- loss of appetite
- nausea, vomiting
- diarrhea
- blurred vision
- visual disturbances (yellow-green halos)
- confusion
- drowsiness
- dizziness
- nightmares
- agitation
- depression
- higher acute sense of sensual activities.
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