Could Rhianna answer my question please?

Question

Hello

I have a question about digoxin, I know what Digoxin is that digoxin is used for aritera-fibulation and arotic flutter, HF. How should I access if a patients daily dose should be given, What are the risks if not measured and my main question why hold if HR under 60 or over 120???

Answer 1

you can have poisoning from Digoxin which can lead to renal affects

Answer 2

Lol she has, hmph dont want anyone else's input eh? ill be leaving then lol.

Answer 3

Digoxin is used much less often in the UK than in the past. Views of the management of AF have changed quite considerably, there are a still a lot of arguments among cardiologists however, as to what is the best treatment. The practice of taking the pulse before giving an individual their digoxin for the day has never really been used in the community, though much fuss was made about the need to check pulse rate in hospital in patients.

Some cardiologists only concern themselves with the heart rate, and manage patients using very safe beta-blockers to simply slow it. Others look for a cure, with a desire to return the patients heart rhythm to normal by the use of defibrillation, often initially slowing the rate with amiodarone. This has become less popular in general, especially in the States, due to its adverse effects on  thyroid function. Surgery is another option, it attempts to ablate, destroyry,) the abnormal focus controlling the heart rate.

Answer 4

Hi Kim, before you administer Digoxin take the patients apical-radial pulse (this is more accurate) for a full minute. Omit if  the rate is below 60 as this can be an indication of digitalis toxicity. Notify the Dr.  Basically, Digoxin slows the heart rate (negative chronotropic effect) and makes the heart beat more forcefully (positive inotropic effect) which increases cardiac output.

Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic window and if drug levels gets outside these ranges it can cause an abnormally slow heartbeat or arrhythmia's (extrasystoles/bigeminy ) and can be followed by complete or partial atrio-ventricular heart block..which could lead to death. An abnormally slow heartbeat could indicate drug levels are too high and medical attention may be needed. Adverse effects can be common with people who have hypokalemia. Digoxin isn't really used as much as it used to be. Various other drugs can interact with Digoxin and could cause toxicity even if the directed dose has been givven.

As a Nurse we are actually bound by regulations to check a patients pulse before we administer Digoxin in a hospital.. always refer to your NMC guidelines. We are professionaly accountable for what we do.