Long-Term Effects of Digoxin in Infants & Children

Digoxin, according to drugs.com, is a heart medication processed from a substance known as digitalis. Digitalis occurs naturally in the leaves of the foxglove plant, also known as Digitalis ianata. Digoxin can be prescribed to adults, children and infants.

Uses

• According to drugs.com, digoxin is prescribed to adult and pediatric patients to treat the effects of mild to moderate congestive heart failure. Digoxin is also used to steady and regularize heart beats in those experiencing atrial fibrillation, according to familydoctor.org.

Pediatric Digoxin

• According to rxlist.com, a lower dosage of digoxin may be necessary for infants or children, who are more sensitive to digoxin than adults.

Pediatric Side Effects

• Because of the sensitivity, infants and children can experience side effects different from those experienced by adults, according to rxlist.com. Cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, can be triggered when an infant or child receives too high a dosage. That can lead to digoxin intoxication, also known as digitalis poisoning.

Additional Side Effects

• Other long-term digoxin side effects affecting children include mild to severe abdominal pain; a diminished capacity to grow and thrive in infants; and loss of weight in older children, according to rxlist.com. Long-term xanthopia---vision changes characterized by blurriness or seeing a yellow aura---is also possible, according to familydoctor.org.

Pregnancy

• The Food and Drug Administration lists digoxin as an "FDA Pregnancy Category C" drug because digoxin taken during pregnancy may harm an unborn fetus. Digoxin used by a nursing mother can show up in breast milk, according to the FDA, and adversely affect nursing infants.