Drug Data Classification Mechanism of Action Indication Contraindications Adverse Reaction Nursing Responsibilities

Generic Name Pharmacologic General Indications Concentrations CNS: Headache, weakness, Before
Digoxin Class Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside which - Heart failure - Digitalis toxicity, drowsiness, visual disturbances, - Observe 15 rights in drug
Cardiac Glycoside has positive inotropic activity - Supraventricular - Ventricular mental status change administration.
Trade Name Cardiotonic characterized by an increase in the arrhythmias tachycardia/fibrillation, - Reduce dosage with hepatic or
Cardioxin, Lanox, force of myocardial contraction. It - Emergency heart failure - Obstructive CV: Arrhythmias renal failure.
Digitek, Lanoxicaps also reduces the conductivity of the cardiomyopathy. - Assess for allergy to digitalis
Therapeutic Class heart through the atrioventricular - Arrhythmias due to GI: GI upset, anorexia preparations.
Minimum Dose Antiarrhythmic, (AV) node. Digoxin also exerts accessory pathways (e.g. - Assess for other contraindications.
0.125 mg PO or Cardiac Drug direct action on vascular smooth Wolff-Parkinson-White - Follow diluting instructions
0.125 mg IV muscle and indirect effects syndrome). carefully, and use diluted solution
Pregnancy Risk mediated primarily by the promptly.
Maximum Dose Factor autonomic nervous system and an Precaution
1.25 mg PO or 0.25 C increase in vagal activity. - Pregnancy During
mg IV - Lactation - Monitor apical pulse for 1 minute
Pharmacokinetics before administering.
Contents Drug interaction - Administer as indicated. Check
Digoxin A: Absorption from the GI tract is Drug to drug dosage and preparation carefully.
variable. - Effectiveness reduced - Avoid IM injections, which may be
Availability and D: Widely distributed in tissues, by phenytoin, neomycin, very painful.
color including the heart, brain, sulphasalazine, kaolin, - Avoid giving with meals; this will
Lanoxicaps erythrocytes, and skeletal muscle. pectin, antacids and in delay absorption.
capsules: 0.05, 0.1, 20-30% bound to plasma proteins. patients receiving - Monitor for therapeutic drug levels:
0.2 mg; M: Digoxin is not extensively radiotherapy 0.5-2.0 ng/mL
Tablets: 0.125, 0.25 metabolized. - Metoclopramide may - Have emergency equipment ready.
mg; E: Excreted mainly unchanged. alter the absorption of
Elixir: 0.05 mg/mL; solid dosage forms of After
Injection: 0.25 Route Onset Peak Duration digoxin - Instruct patient not to stop taking
mg/mL - Blood levels increased drug without notifying physician.
Pediatric injection: Oral 30-120 2-6 6-8 days by calcium channel - Instruct to report slow or irregular
0.1 mg/mL min hr blockers, spironolactone, pulse, rapid weight gain, loss of
IV 5-30 1-5 4-5 days quinidine and calcium appetite, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting,
Routes of min hr salts. blurred or yellow vision, unusual
administration - Electrolyte imbalances tiredness or weakness, swelling of
Oral Drug Half Life such as hypokalaemia the ankles, legs or fingers, difficulty
Intravenous 30-40 hr and hypomagnesemia breathing.
(e.g. admin of potassium- - Weigh patient every other day.
losing diuretics, - Instruct to have regular medical
corticosteroids) can check-ups, which may include blood
increase the risk of tests, to evaluate effects of drug.
cardiac toxicity. - Do proper documentation.
Source: Source: Source: Source: Source: Source: Source:
Karch, Amy: 2009 http://mims.com.ph/ http://mims.com.ph/ http://mims.com.ph/ http://mims.com.ph/ Karch, Amy: 2009 Lippincott’s Nursing Drug http://mims.com.ph/
Lippincott’s Nursing Drug Karch, Amy: 2009 Karch, Amy: 2009 Lippincott’s Nursing Drug Karch, Amy: 2009 Lippincott’s Karch, Amy: 2009 Lippincott’s Guide, pp. 384 Karch, Amy: 2009 Lippincott’s Nursing Drug
Guide, pp. 384 Lippincott’s Nursing Drug Guide, pp. 384 Nursing Drug Guide, pp. 384 Nursing Drug Guide, pp. 384 Guide, pp. 384
Guide, pp. 384