Digoxin? Help please....

[Lizty]

HI all....

my Ep prescribed Digoxin when I told him that I could not tolerate bisoprolol which makes me feel really tired and sleepy. He prescribed 250mcg in the first instance, but when I went to my GP.. she said I should start off on 62.5. The instructions inside the box say start off with 250mcg and then take maintenance dose of 125! I checked with the pharmacist and he was unsure....

I have since read that Digoxin is not as favoured anymore because of its side effects and risk factors, so I am now confused.....

I could contact the EP ... but wondered what anyone else here thinks?

[Finvola]

I have no knowledge of the drug but with conflicting information like that I would check with my EP.

[maxred1]

I am on Digoxin. I take with Bisoprolol. 320mg per day Digoxin, and 12.5mg, Biso. Big amounts, which I have grown to live with and accept. I get monthly blood tests to check my Digoxin level, because as I am sure you are aware, it is Foxglove, a poison. I was very symptomatic, until about six weeks ago, and strangely, I am feeling pretty good at moment. My BP is 120/68, HR 68. Without I think I may be dead. Up until yesterday, I was also on Pradaxa. Take the Digoxin as you were prescribed, but my advice is get your GP to monitor you whilst you are on it......

[Lizty in reply to maxred1]

Gosh...big amounts.. ! Thanks, i did not know about the blood tests.... I am still having quite a few for warfarin, so don't know if I could face having them for digoxin as well........!  Yes... back to the GP I think....

[cali111]

I was started on Digoxim 125mcg and it is very successful on rate control. I don't have any side effects and if I feel my heart go irregular I use relaxation or mindfulness and it goes away in approximately 30 mins.  I still get breathless but I can't see myself getting any better. Good luck Cali111

[Lizty in reply to cali111]

thank you... that is really helpful.  When do you get breathless most often?

I find it happens frequently during an animated conversation!

[cali111 in reply to Lizty]

Just all the while, but I have other medications on board so they effect my breath . On its own it is ok unless I walk!

[Annekw]

I started on 62-5mcgs Digoxin and 2-5mgs of Bisopral,the Bisopral really made me extremely lethargic,my GP reduced the dose to 1-25mgs which is fine,so far so good!

[Lizty]

Thanks.... then maybe I will start on 62.5 and use bisprolol as pill in pocket if I have a bad run..... thanks Annekw...

[Terjo]

I'm on digoxin 62.5 plus bisoprolol 2.5 and I have a pacemaker.  I take warfarin and have a monitor, water tablets , sodium , aspirin and  vitamin D3.  Feeling the best I've felt for years when I was taking loads of different combinations.  Get breathless when I walk uphill or stairs especially when talking at the same time.  My doctor gives me a blood test about every six months.  It's a full blood count not the same as an INR for warfarin .  Hope you get the right drugs for you quickly, good luck. Terjo

[cali111]

Except for the digoxin and indapamide all the other drugs they have given me to try to find one that suits leave me feeling breathless bad.  I have no quality of life with them and this is important to me.  I have to see my GP in a couple of days and will put it to her that I will have high blood pressure as I have no life with these other tablets.

[Ktomoph_ in reply to cali111]

I have been on Digoxin 250mg for a year now, along with other medication after originally being prescribed bisoprolol, which caused me to be ambulanced to hospital on 2 occasions with severe breathing difficulties. It was then noted on the info that having suffered with asthma as a child, I should not take bisoprolol!

I could not take soltalol and also reacted badly to flecainide. So after much trial and error, I am still on digoxin 250, losartan potassium, furosimide, rivaroxiban and tildeim. I still feel exhausted, and as said above, enjoy no quality of life.

The breathing difficulties still cause much fear and anxiety, particularly at night, which has made me consider whether it is sleep apnea.

Another thing I have noticed since taking this medication is the possible affect it is having on my skin, particularly face and fingers - flaky dry patches. Oh and my stomach - how often I need to go to the toilet other than pass fluids.

[cali111 in reply to Ktomoph_]

In my other reply I neglected to say that I abandoned all the other drugs some of which you mentioned because I had no life whilst taking them, I would sooner have quality than quantity no matter what. I too suffered flaky dry skin but since taking cod liver oil in the liquid form 99% pure this seems to be going away. Your stomach problems would more be a side effect of the drugs, and furosemide will make you run to the toilet I had to change to Indapamide as I could not keep up with the effect of furosemide. Hope all this info helps you sort out your drug regimes.

[Ktomoph_ in reply to cali111]

actually what you have said has made me look at the medication I am taking. Yes it is mcgs of digoxin that I take, but I am hopeless at remembering exactly what each drug does for me.

I do not have high blood pressure - and as far as I remember, have never had high blood pressure. Whether my normal blood pressure is due to the help from the losartan or not is something I do need to discuss with GP.

Originally I was on 80mgs of furosemide daily, but that was halved after the November stage 1 of hybrid ablation. The info leaflet indicates that there may be a problem taking both losartan and furosemide together.

I am at that stage where I am relying heavily on the 2nd stage of the ablation to be done soon and to work! But this is a tormented situation in that I do fear hospitals, needles and operations to the point of phobia. But quality of life, as you say is more important than quantity and I so want/need my life - a life - back.

Will grudgingly make appt with doc to discuss medication. If that doesnt give info then will call cardiology.

Thank you Cali.

[cali111 in reply to Ktomoph_]

Good luck to you, I really would ask them to give you a comprehensive overview and get them to write it down if you are forgetful - like me - I ask!

[cali111]

Thanks for your reply. You are on a high dose of Digoxin which I suspect is micrograms and not milligrams. I know mine is 125mcg. Your breathlessness sounds far worse than mine. I found that bisoprolol, tilidem and losartan potassium both caused my breathlessness to get worse as well as a fluid retention, which I think is what your furosimide is for. It seems a lot of drugs that are very similar in action. It would depend on if they have diagnosed you with. I have HB pressure and Atrial Fibrillation. The only other drugs I take are Indapamide, a diuretic, Warfarin, Blood thinner, and Omeprazole a PPI.I was tested for sleep apnoea which came up very, very mild so it was not pursued. I ask my doctor if I suffered from heart failure of heart disease, but she said not so I just wait until the clot in my heart has dissolved and I can go ahead with an ablation.

You would be better to see you GP or maybe you consultant and ask for detailed information of why each of these drugs have been prescribed and then you would a least have some peace of mind as to what is happening to you. Don`t let them fob you off but be aware if you are a person who don`t really want to know the details don`t ask. Good luck to you and keep fighting but knowledge is a great mind soother I have found.

[Ktomoph_]

Further information after looking at the drugs I am taking: the furosemide contra indications has a bold-type warning - high doses of furosemide may cause irreversible hearing loss!

I have been taking 80mg per day for a year and at no-time did my GP say anything. It was only after the first stage HA that the dosage was halved by the cardiology team. I actually raised the point with my GP, stating that I was now concerned that fluid would further build up around my lungs and make it even more difficult to breath. He suggested I could take one and a half pills. Again, no mention of this side affect.

Both my GP(particularly so) and cardio team dont like hearing that I have been online researching AF and its treatments. And yet here is a perfect example as to why we do need to research as well.

I have a pile of questions now regarding the medication I am currently on.

I just want to feel better instead of worse.

[cali111 in reply to Ktomoph_]

I hope you can get answers to your questions as most of the drugs you cite are as much for high blood pressure as well as AF. To get control of mine I stopped one drug at a time for 4-5 days to see if I felt better and also to see if when I restarted the problems returned. This is how I have arrived at nothing ending with "lol" which are usually beta blockers, and only Indapamide which is a diuretic and a low dose of digoxin for the rate control and my bpm are usually about 70-95. Of course I do have to take warfarin as a protective. Most times I feel more my normal self except that I get breathless when I try to walk but I just cope with that whilst waiting for my ablation, which, ( I hope!) will help. It did take me a while to sort these drugs out and as you say it is not well received by GPs and cardiologists, but I reminded them that this was MY health we were discussing and my decisions as to which drugs I could tolerate. I though they might refuse to treat me but no, they are still going forward so hang in there and keep fighting to be yourself again!

[Ktomoph_ in reply to cali111]

Thanks Cali.....your words are comforting.

Had a dreadful night with the breathing difficulties. Had a feeling I would as I wasnt breathing comfortably before going to bed. Sitting upright helps a little, but when so tired and trying to get air into the lungs, nothing makes any sense.

I sat at the computer researching! Breathing has calmed a little now - probably because I have taken morning meds.

I also let myself cry. It does help to just let it flow sometimes.

I went to laughter yoga a few years ago. Great fun. The release of tears and emotion has the same remedial affect I feel.

You are right again about reminding them that it is your health you were discussing. The registrar I saw on Thursday repeatedly referred to 'other patients' until I said that I had not come for this appointment to discuss 'other patients'. Good examples that would make me feel better I dont mind.

Thanks again Cali.