Lanoxin (Digoxin)

Do’s

• Take Lanoxin by mouth with or without food as directed by your healthcare provider, usually once daily.
• If using the liquid form, carefully measure the dose using the dropper provided by the manufacturer. For pediatric patients, parents or caregivers should be taught how to accurately measure the medication.
• Your body may not absorb Lanoxin as well if you eat foods that are high in fiber or if you take certain medications. Take this medication at least 2 hours before or after eating food products that are high in fiber. If taking certain medications, take them as far apart from your Lanoxin dose as possible.
• Use Lanoxin regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.
• Blood tests will be necessary to ensure that the Lanoxin dose is appropriate for the patient. Additionally, the patient's blood pressure and heart rate will need to be checked regularly.

Don’ts

• Do not use a household spoon when measuring the liquid form because you may not get the correct dose.
• Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your healthcare provider, as some conditions may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped.

Common Side Effects:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Feeling weak or dizzy
• Headache
• Weakness
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Rash

Serious Side Effects:

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain
• Fast, slow, or uneven heart rate
• Light-headed feeling, feeling like you might pass out
• Bloody or black, tarry stools
• Confusion, weakness, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior
• Breast swelling or tenderness
• Blurred vision, yellowed vision
• Stomach pain, weight loss, growth delay, behavior changes in babies or children

Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults and those who are ill or debilitated. If you experience any of these serious side effects, seek medical attention promptly.

Lanoxin should not be used if you are allergic to digoxin or if you have ventricular fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder of the lower chambers of the heart that allows blood to flow out of the heart.

When considering a Lanoxin dosing regimen, take into account factors that affect digoxin blood levels, such as body weight, age, renal function, and concomitant drugs. Toxic levels of digoxin are only slightly higher than therapeutic levels, so dosing should be carefully monitored.

Lanoxin may interact with other medications. Consult a healthcare provider before taking any drug, changing any diet, or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.

Patients with certain pre-existing conditions, such as serious heart conditions like "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (unless they have a pacemaker), or a history of heart attack, should inform their healthcare provider before using Lanoxin.

Lanoxin may lead to cardiac arrhythmias. Patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome who develop atrial fibrillation are at high risk of ventricular fibrillation when treated with digoxin. Treatment with Lanoxin may cause severe sinus bradycardia or sinoatrial block, particularly in patients with pre-existing sinus node disease.

Adverse reactions of Lanoxin are dose-dependent and occur at doses higher than those needed to achieve a therapeutic effect. Therefore, interruption or reduction in Lanoxin dose may be necessary in certain situations, such as prior to electrical cardioversion.

The information provided here is not exhaustive. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice before taking Lanoxin or any other medication.