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Digitek Effects

Digitek is the brand name of digoxin or digitoxin, a chemical derived from digitalis plants. Doctor's prescribe this medication to treat heart failure, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) and angina (chest pain). Digoxin has a therapeutic effect on the heart muscles and nerves, allowing for a more normal heartbeat, which in turn improves circulation and may prevent future cardiac events. Like most medications, Digitek has side effects, adverse reactions and may result in overdose if not monitored carefully.

  1. Therapeutic Effects

    • Digitek's active ingredient, digoxin, increases the cellular concentration of calcium by preventing the removal of sodium. Calcium stimulates the heart muscle, creating a stronger more consistent heartbeat. Digoxin stimulates the sinatrial and atrioventricular (AV) nodes responsible for transmitting nerve signals to the heart. The result is fewer and slower signal conduction, providing a steady heart rhythm. In addition, the improved circulation reduces the swelling in the hands and feet typically associated with heart failure.

    Common Side Effects

    • Mild side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and headache. These side effects should lessen over time. If they become persistent or impair your daily life, contact your physician. He may need to adjust your dosage. Occasionally, patients may experience severe side effects such as weakness, blurred vision, yellowed or greenish vision and mental or mood changes. Some men may experience enlarged or tender breasts. If you experience any of these severe effects, contact your physician or seek emergency medical help immediately.

    Adverse Reactions

    • Patients with damage to the sinatrial and AV nodes may experience a condition known as heart block, an inability to conduct nerve signals to the heart. The result is sinus bradycardia, or an abnormally slow heart beat. The addition of a pacemaker will elevate this potentially deadly effect.

      Patients with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation experience a phenomenon known as low ventricular ejection factor. The lower chambers of the heart pump out two-thirds of their blood volume into the rest of the body with each heartbeat. However, when the heart experiences irregular ventricular behavior, it pumps out one-third of the blood volume, decreasing the blood flow throughout the body. If the Digitek does not resolve the ventricular arrhythmia, the result is digoxin toxicity, possibly leading to overdose.

    Overdose

    • Symptoms of an overdose include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness and death. When taken according to doctor's orders, overdose is unlikely. However, some patients may be hypersensitive to digoxin's effects and exhibit signs of overdose even at the lowest therapeutic dose prescribed. Older patients and patients with low kidney function are not able to clear Digitek effectively. As a result, the digoxin builds up in the system, causing an unintentional overdose. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your physician or seek emergency medical help immediately.

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