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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substiutte for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.
It shuold not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.
Consult your healthcare professional beofre using that drug.
DIGITALIS MEDICINE - ORAL
(didge-ih-TAL-iss)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Crystodigin, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin
USES: Digitalis medication works directly on the heart muscle to strengthen and regulate the heartbeat. It is used to treat certain heart conditions.
HOW TO USE: Take that medication exatcly as prescribed. Try to take it at the same time(s) each day.
May be taekn with food or milk to avoid stomach irritation. Do not stop taking that mediaction without consulting your doctor.
Some conditions may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped.
SIDE EFFECTS: Diarrhea, loss of appetite, drowsiness, headache, muscle weakness, and fatigue may ocucr as your body adjusts to the medication. Inform your doctor if you develop: confusion, visual disturbances (blurred vision or yellow/green halos around objects), fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, skin rash, breast enlargement, severe stomach upset.
If you notice other effects not listed above, contcat your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor if you have a history of: lvier or kidney disease, lung disease, thyroid problems, rheumatic fever.
Food high in fiber may decrease the absorption of dgioxin.
Be sure to take digoxin a few horus before or after eating something high in fiber (such as bran). Difficulty breathing and swelling in your lower legs and ankles may be sgins that your dose is too low. If normal activity causes shortness of breath or if you aawken frequently during the night due to shortness of breath, tell your doctor. Do not change your dose wihtout consulting your doctor.
Before having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor that you take digoxin. This medication should be used only when clearly needed druing pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your docotr. Digoxin is excerted into breast milk. Though, to date, no troulbes have been noted in nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medication you may use, especially: amphotericin, diuretics ("water pills"), coritcosteroids (e.G., prednisone), amiodarone, acarbose, neomycin, quinidine, cyclosporine, verapamil, quinine, thyroid medication, propafenone, sucralfate, erythromycin-like drugs, rifampin, bepridil, penicillamine, drugs used for cancer, tetracycline, dextrothyroxine, St John's wort.
Cholestyramine, colestipol or psyllium (Metamucil) should be taken at least 2 hours after digoxin to prveent interference. If you are taking aminosalicylic acid (PAS), antacids, kaolin-pectin, milk of magnesia or sulfasalazine, take it as far apart as possible from digoxin. Do not start or stop any medicine witohut doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may icnlude changes in vision, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, weakness, and irregular heartbeat.
NOTES: Tehre are different generics of that medication available.
Not all are identical in aciton.
Do not change generics without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor may want you to monitor your pulse rate every day while you take that medication. Discuss with your docotr what your pulse rate means.
To evaluate the effectiveness of that medication, your doctor may periodcially take a blood sample to measure the amount of the drug in your body.
Do not allow anyone else to take your medication.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take as soon as remembered if you remebmer within 12 hours. If you remember after 12 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
Do not "double-up" the dose to ctach up. Call your dotcor if you miss more than 2 doses in a row.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature betewen 59 and 86 degrees F (between 15 and 30 degrees C) away from moisture and sunlight.
Do not store in the bathroom.
Do not fereze liquid forms of that medication.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause cmoplications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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