Lanoxin Digoxin

Lanoxin digoxin is a generic prescription drug in tablet form that comes in .125 mg, .25 mg, and .5 mg; and in capsules .05 mg, .1 mg, .2 mg.

Digoxin is used for people in heart failure and to slow heartbeat for people who have abnormal atrial fibrillation and flutter.

Digoxin is extracted from the leaves of a plant called digitalis lanata.

Digoxin may be taken with or without food. Digoxin is mainly excreted by the kidneys, and dosages need to be reduced in patients with kidney dysfunction. Digoxin blood levels can be used to monitor dosing and to avoid drug toxicity.

There is little cushion between a beneficial level of digoxin and a toxic level of digoxin. Digoxin toxicity can cause potentially life- threatening heart rhythm disturbances.

Patients with low blood potassium levels can develop digoxin toxicity even when digoxin levels are not considered elevated. Similarly, high calcium and low magnesium blood levels can increase digoxin toxicity and produce serious heart rhythm disturbances.

The most common side effects are related to digoxin toxicity and heart rhythm disturbances. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, breast enlargement, blurred vision, rash, and mental changes.

Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/digoxin/article.htm