Digoxin toxicity occurred in 19.5% of patients but was generally benign, with a notable excess of early gastrointestinal reactions in women, suggesting loading doses should be avoided except in urgent cases.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Adverse reactions to digoxin are mostly benign but more gastrointestinal in women; this observational study leaves open the value of sex-specific dosing.
Toxicity to digoxin was monitored in 437 consecutive recipients in a comprehensive drug surveillance programme, Adverse reactions developed in 19.5% and, in contrast to previous reports, were generally of a relatively benign nature. There were no drug-related deaths, but patients with adverse reactions spent longer in hospital. Low body weight, impaired renal function, old age and concurrent use of diuretics individually did not increase the risk of toxicity. This was attributed to improvements in the prescribing of digoxin. There was a highly significant excess of gastrointestinal reactions in women, which tended to occur early in the course of therapy. This susceptibility is not widely recognized. The use of loading doses may have caused many early reactions and it is suggested that this practice cold be abandoned in all but the most urgent cases.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Henry et al. (1981) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: