Digoxin question

[betrn7]

I am a nurse and am hoping your Dr gave you some parameters of what your pulse should be before taking dig daily. Generally if your pulse is slower than 60 you should not take dig that day . Do you take your pulse daily? Check with your Dr if he hasn't given you any parameters

[Paulbounce]

Hi Betrn.

Thanks for your info and insight. This is worth remembering for sure.

Just one thing though (I have no medical training at all by the way). Is it a good idea just to miss a day, resume the next day depending on HR, just by judging it on a pulse reading ? Your pulse rate can swing wildly from one minute to the next (certainly with afib). High one minute and low the next.

I find GP`s don`t give much info. It seems to be after an ECG when you see the cardio that you 'learn' more.

Enjoy your day.

Best,

Paul

[dedeottie in reply to Paulbounce]

Thats what I was thinking Paul. Mine is always below 60 in the mornings but as the day goes on in rises to anywhere between 60 and 80 so what would a person do in that situation?

It doesnt sound a very consistent solution to me. X

[Buffafly in reply to dedeottie]

Probably based on resting pulse rate? I suspect (not taken digoxin except in emergency) that digoxin stops the natural rise in rate during the day? Which would account for it being more suitable for sedentary people.

[Buffafly]

Hi, can you answer my question (below dediottie's reply)?

[jedimasterlincoln]

It would be interesting to see what people's HR is when on the cusp of 60 or below.... if they omit on this basis, what does the resting HR average out at over the course of the day.

If your HR is below 60 on a Monday, and you omit it, then throughout the day your resting HR rises to 80-90+ and stays that high until Tuesday.... you then have to take it, and it puts it down to 60 or below.... and that stays like it til Wednesday... so you omit it...

Wouldn't a lower dose be better?

[cassie46]

I agree with Jedi - you could apply this to other medications, surely they are taken to keep things as stable as possible. I have been on Digoxin when first diagnosed with AF but had to come off it as it affected my memory so was changed to Diltaizem. My GP was never happy with me being on it she considered it more suitable for very elderly people (I was 67 at the time). Who gave you this information, I have never heard of it before. It might be appropriate for people who are bedridden or who have poor mobility but it would have to be monitored very carefully.

Cassie

[Sylvie41]

I have been taking Digoxin 125mg daily for 15 years. Hospital prescribed it. The only advice I was given was if my pulse gets below 30 go to Casualty. I have AF 24/7. I also have a blood thinner Rivaroxaban 20mg daily. Hope this helps.