Product Description.:
JSP 544
tablet , yellow , scored , round round
Beveled edge
USES: Digoxin works directly on the heart muscle to strengthen and regulate the heartbeat. It is used to treat certain heart conditions.
HOW TO USE: This medication is best taken on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. It may be taken with food if stomach upset occurs. Try to take it at the same time(s) each day, exactly as directed. Foods high in fiber may decrease the absorption of digoxin into your bloodstream. Take digoxin at least two hours before or after eating food products high in fiber (such as bran). Do not stop taking this medication 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 occur 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, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor if you have a history of: liver or kidney disease, lung disease, thyroid problems, rheumatic fever. Difficulty breathing and swelling in your lower legs and ankles may be signs that your dose is too low. If normal activity causes shortness of breath or if you awaken frequently during the night due to shortness of breath, tell your doctor. Do not change your dose without 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 during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Digoxin is excreted into breast milk. Though, to date, no problems have been noted in nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Drugs such as verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Verelan PM, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Covera-HS), quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinide), amiodarone (Cordarone), indomethacin (Indocin, Indocin-SR), alprazolam (Xanax, Xanax XR, Niravam), spironolactone (Aldactone), and itraconazole (Sporanox) can increase digoxin levels and the risk of toxicity. The co-administration of digoxin and beta-blockers [for example propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA) or calcium channel blockers (for example, verapamil), which also reduces heart rate, can cause serious slowing of the heart rate.
Diuretic-induced [for example, by furosemide (Lasix)] reduction in blood potassium or magnesium levels may predispose patients to digoxin-induced abnormal heart rhythms.
Saquinavir (Invirase) and ritonavir (Norvir) increase the amount of digoxin in the body and may cause digoxin toxicity.
SIDE EFFECTS: Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, skin rash, and mental changes. Many digoxin side effects are dose dependent and happen when blood levels are over the narrow therapeutic range. Therefore, digoxin side effects can be avoided by keeping blood levels within the therapeutic level. Serious side effects associated with digoxin include heart block, rapid heartbeat, and slow heart rate. Digoxin has also been associated with visual disturbance (blurred or yellow vision), abdominal pain, and breast enlargement. 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 disturbances in heart rhythm.
