"Digoxin": reviews. "Digoxin" (tablets): instructions for use

Chronic heart failure is a disease that is not rare today. Incorrect lifestyle, poor nutrition and bad habits contribute to a significant deterioration of well-being in old age. It is not possible to recover completely the work of the heart. But drug therapy allows you to lead a full-fledged lifestyle. Tablets "Digoxin" are popular. The use of the drug should be agreed with the doctor.

Composition and form of release

The drug is offered in the form of tablets of small diameter. The main active ingredient is digoxin. One tablet contains 250 mg of this component. As auxiliary elements magnesium stearate, lactose monohydrate, corn starch, gelatin, silicon colloid anhydrous, talc are used. The medicine is offered in pharmacies in cardboard packages or plastic bottles.

The drug belongs to the group of cardiac glycosides. Tablets "Digoxin" have a positive effect on the heart. The instruction says that myocardial contractility significantly increases. Thanks to this, the shock volume of blood also increases. In addition, the volume of the heart decreases. This leads to the fact that the need for myocardium in oxygen is significantly reduced.

Patients who suffer from atrial tachyarrhythmia may also use the drug. The main active component slows down the frequency of ventricular contractions, and also improves intracardiac geodynamics.

Pharmacokinetics

Well tolerated by most patients tablets "Digoxin." Experts' reviews show that the medicine is perfectly absorbed into the walls of the stomach. As a percentage, this figure is 80%. In many ways, absorption depends on the health of the stomach, as well as the food taken in parallel. Bioavailability of the drug "Digoxin" is 60-70%. If the gastric juice has a normal acidity, only a small amount of the main active substance of the medication is destroyed.

The drug has the ability to accumulate in tissues. Therefore, at the beginning of treatment there is no correlation between the concentration of the drug in the plasma and the severity of the pharmacodynamic effect. The drug is metabolized in the liver, and is excreted mostly by the kidneys. Up to 80% comes out unchanged. If the patient suffers from hepatic impairment, compensation may be due to increased excretion of digoxin by the kidneys.

Indications

The drug "Digoxin" is popular with patients and doctors. The reviews show that the pills help to restore the heart perfectly. Prescribe the drug primarily to patients with chronic heart failure, if there are clinical manifestations of the disease. A positive effect is also on the medication on patients who suffer from a tachycystologic form of atrial fibrillation. Especially if this condition is manifested against a background of chronic heart failure.

The "Digoxin" (tablets) can not be used as a monotherapy. The instruction for use states that the drug can be prescribed only as part of a comprehensive treatment of chronic heart failure. Tablets help to restore the heart rhythm and well-being of the patient. But they can not completely restore the heart to their former condition.

Contraindications

For some patients, tablets "Digoxin" may be dangerous. The doctors' comments show that the medicine should be taken only after a complete examination of the body. The medicine has many contraindications. These include diseases such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, intermittent complete blockade, glycosidic intoxication. In some cases, there may be increased sensitivity to the components of the drug.

There are also conditions of the body, in which the use of the drug "Digoxin" is possible, but with caution. The expert must carefully evaluate the possible benefits and harms. It is not recommended without a doctor's consultation to drink tablets in conditions such as hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, arteriovenous shunt, amyloidosis of the heart.

Use during pregnancy and lactation

Studies were conducted on the possibility of taking "Digoxin" tablets by pregnant and lactating women. It was found that the main active ingredient can penetrate both through the placental barrier to the fetus, and into breast milk. During birth, the concentration of the main component of the drug in the blood serum of the newborn and the mother is absolutely the same. For the safety of the application, the "Digoxin" medication can be classified as "C". Experts' reviews show that during pregnancy and lactation, tablets are recommended only in extreme cases. Do this only when the potential benefit to the mother exceeds the potential risk for the child.

Studies on the subject of taking medication by children were not conducted. For this reason, "Digoxin" tablets are not prescribed to under-age patients. There are many other drugs that are intended for the treatment of heart defects in children under 18 years of age.

Dosage

It is necessary to take correctly "digoxin" (tablets). The instructions for use describe the exact dosage for each clinical case. The medication is taken only inside. It is worth remembering that the tablets belong to the group of cardiac glycosides. Therefore, the dosage should be selected especially carefully in accordance with the individual characteristics of the patient's body. If the patient has previously taken cardiac glycosides, the dosage of "Digoxin" tablets should be reduced.

For adults, the maximum dosage is selected depending on the need to quickly obtain a therapeutic effect. Rapid digestization can be used only in emergency cases, when the patient's condition deteriorates sharply. In this case, the patient takes 1.25 mg of the drug twice. Before each subsequent dose, an ECG should be performed. As soon as the patient's heart returns to normal, it is necessary to start supporting treatment. The dosage can be reduced.

In most cases, patients are shown a slow digistalization. It is necessary to take the drug "Digoxin" within 5-7 days. Reviews in heart disease show that this method allows you to maintain a normal state of health for a long time. The daily dosage of the drug can be 250-500 mcg. Tablets are taken only once a day.

Overdose

Tablets "Digoxin" should be taken in accordance with the doctor's recommendation. The reviews show that misuse of tablets can lead to an overdose. The main symptoms are sleep deterioration, decreased appetite, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Some patients may have worse heart function. There are such symptoms as flicker and flutter of the atria, nodal tachycardia, sinoatrial blockade. The patient may have confusion, reduced visual acuity, psychosis.

Cardinal treatment does not require an overdose. The doctor can only cancel the drug "Digoxin" and prescribe activated charcoal. In case of acute drug poisoning, the patient may be shown gastric lavage. Treatment should take place in a medical institution under the supervision of specialists.

Adverse events

Poor state of health in patients is most often the result of an overdose of "Digoxin" tablets. Instructions for use, testimonials - all this should be studied before starting the medication. Drug intoxication may be manifested by symptoms such as ventricular paroxysmal tachycardia, sinoauric blockade, nodular tachycardia, polytopic ventricular extrasystole. From the side of the digestive system, patients often experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Against this background, patients in rare cases completely refuse to eat. This condition is dangerous by the development of anorexia.

From the side of the central nervous system, there may be side effects such as sleep disorders, headaches, depressive syndrome, confusion, visual hallucinations. If such symptoms occur, immediately stop taking the "Digoxin" tablets. The testimonies of people show that the normal state of the body is returned immediately after the drug is discontinued.

Drug Interactions

Any cardiac glycosides should be taken with caution, along with other drugs. It is not recommended to drink tablets "Digoxin" together with medicines that disrupt electrolyte balance. To such, first of all, diuretics, insulin, glucocorticosteroids - the risk of toxic effects of the drug "Digoxin" increases. Adverse events can also lead to hypercalcemia. Therefore, it is not recommended for patients to administer calcium salts together with Digoxin. Reviews at atrial fibrillation show that even a small dose of calcium is enough to cause side effects.

Under the action of drugs containing aluminum, the absorption of digoxin in the intestine can be reduced. As a result, the positive effect of the tablets on the body will be reduced. Also with caution should take spironolactone. It helps to reduce the concentration of digoxin in the serum, and also distorts the results of determining the content of matter in the body.

The usual activated carbon significantly reduces the bioavailability of the drug "digoxin". Feedback on the application shows that the drug is absolutely inactive when used in conjunction with drugs that improve the motility of the gastrointestinal tract.

Are there analogues?

How to be, if the medicinal product on the basis of digoxin in a drugstore could not be found? The doctor will always be able to choose a drug that will have a similar effect on the body. Popularity, for example, use tablets "Cardiomagnolo". This drug, the main active ingredient of which is magnesium hydroxide. In addition, components such as acetylsalicylic acid, potato starch, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose are used.

The medicine "Cardiomagnolo" can be prescribed for the treatment of various diseases of the cardiovascular system. It is also accepted as a prophylaxis for thrombosis and repeated myocardial infarction.

Reviews about the drug "Digoxin"

Increasingly, with chronic heart failure, specialists prescribe "Digoxin" tablets. The reviews show that the medication gives really good results when it is used correctly. To avoid any side effects, you should take it strictly on the advice of a doctor. A qualified specialist will always be able to select the desired dosage in accordance with the form of the disease, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient.

Negative reviews of the drug "digoxin" are also available. They are connected, to a large extent, with a large number of side effects. It is worth noting that unpleasant symptoms are manifested most often in those patients who do not comply with the desired dosage or take the drug in conjunction with other medicines. It is necessary to use with care tablets "Digoxin". Instructions for use, reviews - all this should be studied before starting therapy.

Where to buy the drug?

The drug is dispensed on prescription. After contacting a specialist, the medicine can be purchased at the nearest pharmacy. Tablets "Digoxin" are not uncommon. Also, the medicine can be ordered in real time. In online pharmacies the medicine costs much less.

How much do you have to pay?

Tablets "Digoxin" refer to a low price category. For one packing it is necessary to pay only about 50 rubles. If you order a drug in an online pharmacy, you can save up to 15%.