Digoxin

Digitek comes in capsule form and is classed as a digitalis. It is used to treat patients with mild to moderate heart failure. It works by improving the strength and efficiency of the heart and controls the rhythm and rate of the heartbeat. This leads to better blood circulation and reduced swelling of the hands and ankles. Common side effects of Digitek include dizziness, fainting and slow heartbeat.

• Digitek
• Lanoxin
• Digox

• Digitek
• Digox
• Digoxin
• Lanoxin
• Lanoxin Pediatric

• Capsule
• Liquid
• Tablet

• By mouth

Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.

Oral routeIt is best to take this medicine on an empty stomach. If the medicine upsets your stomach, you may take it with food or milk.

Measure the oral liquid medicine with the marked measuring dropper that comes with the package or with an oral syringe. Do not use teaspoons or tablespoons that are used for serving and eating food. These will not measure the correct amount.

To keep your heart working properly, take this medicine exactly as directed even though you may feel well. Do not take more of this medicine than your doctor ordered and do not miss any doses. Take the medicine at the same time each day. This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood.

Do not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to digoxin or other forms of digitalis or if you have ventricular fibrillation.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have kidney disease, heart or blood vessel problems, breathing problems (such as hypoxia), mineral imbalances (such as high or low calcium, or low potassium or magnesium in the blood), or thyroid problems. Tell your doctor if you are on dialysis, have had a recent heart attack, or if you have recently been vomiting or had diarrhea.

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

Watch for signs and symptoms of overdose while you are taking this medicine. Follow your doctor's directions carefully. The amount of this medicine needed to help most people is very close to the amount that could cause serious problems from overdose. Some early warning signs of overdose are confusion, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or vision problems. Other signs of overdose are an uneven, pounding, or slow heartbeat or fainting. In babies and small children, the earliest signs of overdose are heartbeat changes, weight loss, stomach pain, or unusual behavior.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite

Unusual behavior, stomach pain, or weight loss (in children)

Tell your doctor if you also use calcium supplements, dopamine (Intropin®), epinephrine (Adrenalin®), norepinephrine (Levophed®), ranolazine (Ranexa®), ritonavir (Norvir®), succinylcholine (Anectine®), teriparatide (Forteo®), thyroid supplements (such as levothyroxine, Synthroid®), certain medicines to treat diabetes (such as acarbose, exenatide, metformin, miglitol, Byetta®, Glucophage®, Glyset®, or Precose®), medicine to lower cholesterol (such as cholestyramine, colestipol, Colestid®, or Questran®), or medicine to treat stomach ulcers (such as esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, rabeprazole, Aciphex®, Nexium®, or Prilosec®).

Tell your doctor if you eat meals that are high in bran, such as cereals or muffins.

Make sure your doctor knows if you also use St John's wort, activated charcoal, albuterol (Ventolin®), alprazolam (Xanax®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), diclofenac (Voltaren®), diphenoxylate, epoprostenol (Flolan®), indomethacin (Indocin®), kaolin-pectin (kaopectate), methylphenidate (Ritalin®), metoclopramide (Reglan®), nicotine gum, propantheline (Pro-Banthine®), sucralfate (Carafate®), or sulfasalazine (Azulfidine®). Tell your doctor if you also use diuretics or water pills (such as bumetanide, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone, Aldactazide®, Aldactone®, Bumex®, Dyazide®, Lasix®, Maxzide®, Midamor®, or Moduretic®), heart or blood pressure medicine (such as atenolol, captopril, carvedilol, diltiazem, metoprolol, nifedipine, nitrendipine, telmisartan, verapamil, Adalat®, Cardizem®, Lotrel®, Plendil®, Procardia®, Tiazac®, or Toprol®), certain medicines to treat heart rhythm problems (such as amiodarone, dofetilide, moricizine, propafenone, quinidine, sotalol, Betapace®, Cardioquin®, Cordarone®, Ethmozine®, Quinaglute®, Rythmol®, or Tikosyn®), medicines to treat infection (such as azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, neomycin, rifampin, tetracycline, Ery-Tab®, Mycifradin®, Rifadin®, Rimactane®, Sporanox®, or Zithromax®), a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, Medrol®), or cancer medicines.

You should not use antacids (such as Maalox® or Mylanta®) at the same time you take digoxin.

• Confusion, tiredness or weakness, trouble breathing, numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips
• Unusual behavior, stomach pain, or weight loss (in children)
• Fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat
• Changes in vision
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite
• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Headache or dizziness