Digoxin is a medication from the cardiac glycosides class. It helps the heart pump more efficiently by inhibiting the normal function of the sodium-potassium pump. It affects the heart by causing a:
- Positive Inotropic Effect – helps the heart contract harder
- Negative Chronotropic Effect – promotes a slower heartbeat
- Negative Dromotropic Effect – causes the AV Node to send slower impulses
This causes the heart to squeeze more blood out, increasing stroke volume and cardiac output. This allows the heart to provide better perfusion throughout the body.
Digoxin is helpful with heart failure, cardiogenic shock, atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, and problems within the heart pumping and emptying actions.
Digoxin Toxicity
Early signs and symptoms of Digoxin toxicity include nausea and vomiting as well as anorexia. Futher symptoms may arise such as changes in vision, including yellow/greenish halos, as well as dysrhythmias.
Toxicity risk increases if the patient is experiencing hypokalaemia (<3.5), hypomagnesmia (<1.5), or hypercalcaemia (>10.2).
This medication should not be administered if the patient has an apical pulse of less than 60 (in adults). In case of a lesser pulse rate, hold medication and consult with MD.
Below you can find a collection of videos that can help provide a more visual approach to Digoxin and how to assess an apical pulse.
Digoxin
Assessing the Apical Pulse prior to Administration
Special thanks to the creator of the featured videos on this post, specifically Youtube Channel Registered Nurse RN
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Claire is keen about public education on health-related subjects as well as holistic patient-centered care. She is also passionate about spreading awareness on the negative effects that domestic abuse leaves on its victims’ mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing.
Claire aspires to continue studying following completion of her Nursing Degree, because she truly believes in lifelong education.
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